BCMA (CD269) specific chimeric antigen receptors for cancer immunotherapy

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from a BCMA monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against BCMA positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating lymphomas, multiple myeloma and leukemia.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2015/057995 filed Apr. 13, 2015, which claims priority to Danish Patent Application No. PA201470212, filed Apr. 14, 2014. The disclosure of these prior applications are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward BCMA, a cell surface glycoprotein found on most myeloid cells and used to diagnose acute myeloid Leukemia (AML) in patients. The CARs according to the invention are particularly useful to treat malignant cells bearing BCMA antigen, when expressed in T-cells or NK cells. The resulting engineered immune cells display high level of specificity toward malignant cells, conferring safety and efficiency for immunotherapy. The invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that specifically binds to BCMA (e.g., human BCMA) (CAR, BCMA CAR or anti-BCMA CAR) and an immune cell comprising said CAR, preferably T cells and more preferably a BCMA CAR T cells wherein the expression of a TCR is inhibited and/or which is resistant to at least one drug, even more preferably further comprising a suicide gene. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding said CAR, compositions comprising said CAR-T cells and methods of making and using said CAR and CAR-T cells. The invention provides said CAR as a medicament, a method for treating a pathological condition associated with BCMA expression in a subject, such as cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adoptive immunotherapy, which involves the transfer of autologous antigen-specific T cells generated ex vivo, is a promising strategy to treat viral infections and cancer. The T cells used for adoptive immunotherapy can be generated either by expansion of antigen-specific T cells or redirection of T cells through genetic engineering (Park, Rosenberg et al. 2011). Transfer of viral antigen specific T cells is a well-established procedure used for the treatment of transplant associated viral infections and rare viral-related malignancies. Similarly, isolation and transfer of tumor specific T cells has been shown to be successful in treating melanoma.

Novel specificities in T cells have been successfully generated through the genetic transfer of transgenic T cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) (Jena, Dotti et al. 2010). CARs are synthetic receptors consisting of a targeting moiety that is associated with one or more signaling domains in a single fusion molecule. In general, the binding moiety of a CAR consists of an antigen-binding domain of a single-chain antibody (scFv), comprising the light and variable fragments of a monoclonal antibody joined by a flexible linker. Binding moieties based on receptor or ligand domains have also been used successfully. The signaling domains for first generation CARs are derived from the cytoplasmic region of the CD3zeta or the Fc receptor gamma chains. First generation CARs have been shown to successfully redirect T-cell cytotoxicity. However, they failed to provide prolonged expansion and anti-tumor activity in vivo. Signaling domains from co-stimulatory molecules, as well as transmembrane and hinge domains have been added to form CARs of second and third generations, leading to some successful therapeutic trials in humans, where T-cells could be redirected against malignant cells expressing CD19 (June et al., 2011). However, the particular combination of signaling domains, transmembrane and co-stimulatory domains used with respect to CD19 ScFv, was rather antigen-specific and cannot be expanded to any antigen markers.

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy characterized by an accumulation of clonal plasma cells. Current therapies for multiple myeloma often cause remissions, but nearly all patients eventually relapse and die (Lionel S., et al. 2011). There is substantial evidence of an immune-mediated elimination of myeloma cells in the setting of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, the toxicity of this approach is high, and few patients are cured. Although some monoclonal antibodies have shown promise for treating multiple myeloma in preclinical studies and early clinical trials, consistent clinical efficacy of any monoclonal antibody therapy for multiple myeloma has not been conclusively shown (Van De Donk, N. W. C J., et al., 2012). Moreover, some monoclonal antibodies induce side effects such as hypercytokinemia, a well-known toxicity stemming from the large release of cytokines from activated immune cells. This may be observed during therapy with immune cells expressing CARs.

There is clearly a great need for new immunotherapies for multiple myeloma, and developing an effective and safe antigen-specific adoptive T-cell therapy for this disease would be a major advance

In particular, developing an effective antigen-specific adoptive T-cell therapy for such diseases inducing no or moderate hypercytokinemia would be of interest.

One candidate antigen of immunotherapies for multiple myeloma is B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) also referred as CD269 (SwissProt/Uniprot reference Q02223). This antigen is encoded by the gene TNFRSF17. BCMA RNA was detected universally in multiple myeloma cells, and BCMA protein was detected on the surface of plasma cells from patients with multiple myeloma by several investigators (Novak A. J. et al., 2004). BCMA is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily. BCMA binds B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL). Among nonmalignant cells, BCMA has been reported to be expressed mostly by plasma cells and subsets of mature B cells, but not by T cells and NK cells. It thus represents an appropriate target antigen for treating multiple myeloma, especially using CAR-expressing T cells.

As an alternative to the previous strategies, WO 2013/154760 proposed a BCMA CAR derived from C11 D5.3 and from C12A3.2.

As improved strategies, the present invention provides with BCMA specific CARs, which can be expressed in immune cells to target BCMA malignant cells with significant clinical advantage. In particular, the present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR, which can be expressed at the surface of immune cells, binds to BCMA and exhibit an activity towards BCMA expressing cells, in particular against BCMA expressing cancer cells, preferably said activity is a cytolytic activity against target BCMA expressing cancer cells and more preferably a cytolytic activity against target BCMA expressing cancer cells and a moderate (50% decrease) to low (70% or more decrease) expression of cytokine

There is a need to provide BCMA CARs T cells well tolerated by hosts and having the capacity to survive in the presence of drugs and target selectively BCMA expressing cells, in particular in the presence of drugs used to treat cancer, in particular cytotoxic chemotherapy agents affecting cell survival (anti-cancer chemotherapy).

Several cytotoxic agents such as anti-metabolites, alkylating agents, anthracyclines, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, platinum compounds and spindle poisons have been developed to kill cancer cells, in particular cancer cells expressing BCMA.

These chemotherapy agents can be detrimental to the establishment of robust anti-tumor immunocompetent cells due to their non-specific toxicity. Small molecule-based therapies targeting cell proliferation pathways may also hamper the establishment of anti-tumor immunity.

Thus, there is also a need of developing well tolerated T cells targeting BCMA that would be specific and compatible with the use of drugs, in particular of anti-cancer chemotherapies, such as those affecting cell proliferation.

Thus, to use “off-the-shelf” allogeneic therapeutic cells in conjunction with chemotherapy, the inventors develop a method of engineering BCMA expressing CAR T cells that are less allogeneic, in particular cells that are less allogenic and resistant to chemotherapeutic agents and can be optionally destroyed thanks to a suicide gene.

The therapeutic benefits afforded by this strategy should be enhanced by the synergistic effects between chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Moreover, drug resistance can also benefit from the ability to selectively expand the engineered T-cell thereby avoiding the problems due to inefficient gene transfer to these cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have generated BCMA specific CARs having different structure and comprising different scFV derived from different BCMA specific antibodies.

-   -   The present invention provides a BCMA (CD269) specific chimeric         antigen receptor (CAR) having at least 80% identity with one of         the polypeptide structure selected from V1 to V6, preferably         having a polypeptide structure selected from V1, V3 or V5, said         structure comprising:     -   (a) an extra cellular ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL         from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody,     -   (b) a hinge selected from a FcRIIIα, hinge, a CD8α hinge and an         IgG1 hinge,     -   (c) a CD8α transmembrane domain and     -   (d) a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain         and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.     -   In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides the         present invention provides a BCMA (CD269) specific chimeric         antigen receptor (CAR) having at least 80% identity with one of         the polypeptide structure selected from V1, V3 or V5, said         structure comprising:     -   (a) an extra cellular ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL         from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody,     -   (b) a hinge selected from a FcRIIIα, hinge, a CD8α hinge and an         IgG1 hinge,     -   (c) a CD8α transmembrane domain and     -   (d) a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain         and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.     -   In one embodiment the present invention provides a BCMA (CD269)         specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) as above, said         polypeptide structure comprising an extra cellular ligand         binding-domain comprising a VH and a VL from a monoclonal         anti-BCMA antibody comprising the following CDR sequences: DYYIN         (SEQ ID NO. 61), WIYFASGNSEYNQKFTG (SEQ ID NO. 62), and         LYDYDWYFDV (SEQ ID NO. 63),     -   and     -   KSSQSLVHSNGNTYLH (SEQ ID NO. 64), KVSNRFS (SEQ ID NO. 65), and         AETSHVPWT (SEQ ID NO. 66) or SQSSIYPWT (SEQ ID NO. 67),     -   a hinge selected from a FcγRIIIα hinge, a CD8α hinge, an IgG1         hinge, preferably a CD8α hinge or an IgG1 hinge, a transmembrane         domain from CD8α and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta         signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.         The present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen         receptor according to the above, wherein said extra cellular         ligand binding-domain VH and VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA         antibody comprises the following sequence:

(SEQ ID NO. 68) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXDYYINXXXXXXXXXXXXXXW IYFASGNSEYNQKFTGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXLY DYDWYFDVXXXXXXXXXXX and/or (SEQ ID NO. 69)  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXKSSQSLVHSNGNTYLHXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXKVSNRFSXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSQSSIYP WTXXXXXXXXXX wherein X is an amino acid.

-   -   The present invention provides a BCMA (CD269) specific CAR         according to the above, wherein said VH and VL have at least 80%         identity with a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 11         to 14.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA (CD269) specific chimeric         antigen receptor (CAR) according to the above wherein said extra         cellular ligand binding-domain comprising a VH from a monoclonal         anti-BCMA antibody is selected from a sequence having at least         80% identity with SEQ ID NO 11 and SEQ ID NO 13 and said VL from         a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody is selected from a sequence         having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO 12 and SEQ ID NO 14.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen         receptor according to the above, wherein said extra cellular         ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL from a monoclonal         anti-BCMA antibody is humanized.     -   In one embodiment the present invention provides a BCMA specific         CAR according to any one of the above, wherein said structure V1         comprises a FcγRIIIα hinge and CD8α transmembrane domain.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above, wherein said FcγRIIIα hinge has at least         80% identity with SEQ ID NO.3.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR of structure         V1 according any one of the above, which comprises a polypeptide         sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 19 or SEQ         ID NO.25.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         the above, wherein said structure V3 comprises a CD8α hinge and         a CD8α transmembrane domain.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         the above appropriate, wherein said CD8α hinge has at least 80%         identity with SEQ ID NO.4.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR of structure         V3 according to any one of the above appropriate which comprises         a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID         NO. 21 or SEQ ID NO.27.     -   In one embodiment the present invention provides a BCMA specific         CAR according to any one of the above appropriate, wherein said         structure V5 comprises an IgG1 hinge and a CD8α transmembrane         domain.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above appropriate wherein said IgG1 hinge has at         least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.5.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR of structure         V5 according to any one of the above appropriate, which         comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity         with SEQ ID NO. 23 or SEQ ID NO.35.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above, wherein co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB         has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.8.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above, wherein said CD3 zeta signaling domain has         at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 9.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above, wherein said CD8α transmembrane domain has         at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.6.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above, further comprising a signal peptide.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         the above, wherein said signal peptide has at least 80% sequence         identity with SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO.2.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above further comprising another extracellular         ligand binding domain which is not specific for BCMA.     -   The present invention provides a BCMA specific CAR according to         any one of the above which is humanized.     -   In one aspect, the present invention provides a polynucleotide         encoding a BCMA specific CAR according to any one of the above.     -   In one aspect, the present invention provides an expression         vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding a BCMA specific CAR         according to the above     -   In another aspect, the present invention provides an engineered         immune cell expressing at the cell surface membrane a BCMA         specific chimeric antigen receptor according to the above.     -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell         according to the above, wherein expression of at least one MHC         protein is suppressed, preferably a MHC associated β2 m protein.     -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell         according to any one of the above, wherein said cell is modified         to become resistant to at least one immune suppressive drug or         at least one chemotherapy drug, preferably said cell is modified         to become resistant to at least one immune suppressive drug or a         chemotherapy drug and further comprising a suicide gene.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell             according to any one of the above, derived from inflammatory             T-lymphocytes, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, regulatory             T-lymphocytes or helper T-lymphocytes.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell             according to any one of the above, which is a TCR KO             engineered immune T cell.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell             according to the above, which is further resistant to at one             anti-cancer or anti-inflammatory disease chemotherapy.         -   In a preferred embodiment said engineered immune cell             according to the above, is further resistant to at least one             drug (chemotherapy) used against Multiple Myeloma or             an-inflammatory disease.         -   In another aspect, the present invention provides an             engineered immune cell according to the above for use in             therapy.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell for             use in therapy according to the above, for the treatment of             a pathological condition, wherein said pathological             condition is a pre-malignant or malignant cancer condition             related to BCMA-expressing cells.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell for             use in therapy according to the above, wherein the             pathological condition is a condition which is characterized             by an overabundance of BCMA-expressing cells.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell             according for use in therapy according to any one of the             above, wherein the pathological condition is a             haematological cancer condition.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell for             use in therapy according the above, wherein the             haematological cancer condition is a leukemia.         -   The present invention provides an engineered immune cell for             use in therapy according to the above embodiments, wherein             the haematological cancer condition is multiple myeloma             (MM).     -   The present invention provides an engineered cell for use in         therapy according to the above, wherein said hematologic cancer         is a malignant lymphoproliferative disorder.     -   The present invention provides an engineered cell for use in         therapy according to the above, wherein said leukemia is         selected from the group consisting of acute myelogenous         leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic         syndrome.     -   The present invention provides a method of impairing a         hematologic cancer cell comprising contacting said cell with an         engineered cell according to the above in an amount effective to         cause impairment of said cancer cell.     -   The present invention provides a method of engineering an immune         cell comprising:     -   (a) Providing an immune cell, optionally a TCR KO immune cell         further resistant to at least one anti-cancer chemotherapy,     -   (b) Expressing at the surface of said cell at least one BCMA         specific chimeric antigen receptor according to any one of the         above.     -   The present invention provides a method of engineering an immune         cell as above comprising:     -   (a) Providing an immune cell, optionally a TCR KO immune cell         further resistant to at least one anti-cancer chemotherapy     -   (b) Introducing into said cell at least one polynucleotide         encoding said BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor,     -   (c) Expressing said polynucleotide into said cell.     -   The present invention provides a method of engineering an immune         cell as above comprising:     -   (a) Providing an immune cell, optionally a TCR KO immune cell         further resistant to at least one anti-cancer chemotherapy     -   (b) Introducing into said cell at least one polynucleotide         encoding said BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor,     -   (c) Introducing at least one other chimeric antigen receptor         which is not specific for BCMA.     -   The present invention provides a method of treating a subject in         need thereof comprising:     -   (a) Providing an immune cell expressing at the surface a BCMA         specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor according to the above;         optionally a TCR KO immune cell further resistant to at least         one anti-cancer chemotherapy     -   (b) Administrating said immune cells to said patient.     -   The present invention provides a method as above wherein said         immune cell is provided from a donor.     -   The present invention provides a method as above, wherein said         immune cell is provided from the patient himself.

Preferred CAR polypeptides of the invention comprise an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.19 to 42.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for its use in the treatment of a BCMA expressing cells-mediated disease, in particular a BCMA expressing cells—mediated hematologic cancer, said composition comprising said anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cell of the invention, preferably said anti-BCMA CAR is of SEQ ID NO. 50 or of SEQ ID NO. 56.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a BCMA CAR comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.19, SEQ ID NO.21, SEQ ID NO.23, SEQ ID NO.25, SEQ ID NO.27 and SEQ ID NO.29, preferably SEQ ID NO.21, SEQ ID NO.23, SEQ ID NO.27, SEQ ID NO.29, more preferably SEQ ID NO.21 or SEQ ID NO.27.

More preferred CAR of the invention comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.19, SEQ ID NO.21, SEQ ID NO.23, SEQ ID NO.25, SEQ ID NO.27, SEQ ID NO.29.

Even more preferred CAR of the invention comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.21, SEQ ID NO.23, SEQ ID NO.27, SEQ ID NO.29 and even more preferred having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.21 or SEQ ID NO.27.

In one embodiment, preferred CAR of the invention comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 56 and SEQ ID NO. 58. More preferred CAR of the invention comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 56 and SEQ ID NO. 58.

In another embodiment, CAR of the invention comprises an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 56 and SEQ ID NO. 58. More preferred CAR of the invention comprise an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 52 SEQ ID NO. 56 and SEQ ID NO. 58.

In other embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for its use in the treatment of a BCMA expressing cells-mediated disease, in particular a BCMA expressing cells—mediated hematologic cancer, said composition comprising said anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cell of the invention, as those described just below.

Following non-specific activation in vitro (e.g. with anti CD3/CD28 coated beads and recombinant IL2), T-cells from donors have been transformed with polynucleotides expressing these CARs using viral transduction. In certain instances, the T-cells were further engineered to create non-alloreactive T-cells, more especially by disruption of a component of TCR (αβ—Cell receptors) to prevent Graft versus host reaction. In a preferred embodiment, the T-cells were further engineered by disruption of TCR (αβ—T-Cell receptors) and by modifying at least one gene to confer said engineered T cells resistance to at least one drug, for example a drug used against cancer.

A CAR expressing immune T cell targeting BCMA according to the invention can be used in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy agents as a treatment usually employed as anti-cancer treatments. The resulting engineered T-cells displayed reactivity in-vitro against BCMA positive cells to various extend, showing that the CARs of the present invention contribute to antigen dependent activation, and also proliferation, of the T-cells, making them useful for immunotherapy.

In addition, the resulting engineered T-cells display increased selectivity in vitro and increased cytolytic activity under particular and specific conditions as compared to engineered T-cells expressing a BCMA CAR derived from C11D5.3.

The polypeptides and polynucleotide sequences encoding the CARs of the present invention are detailed in the present specification.

The engineered immune cells of the present invention are particularly useful for therapeutic applications, such as for treating multiple myeloma.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Schematic representation of an engineered immune cell according to the invention. The engineered immune cell presented in this figure is a T-cell transduced with a retroviral polypeptide encoding CAR. This T-cell is further engineered to allow a better and safer engraftment into the patient, which is optional within the frame of the present invention. X gene may be for instance a gene expressing a component of TCR (TCRalpha or TCRbeta), Y may be a gene involved into the sensitivity of T-cells to immune-suppressive drugs like CD52 (with respect to Campath) or HPRT (with respect to 6-Thioguanine).

FIG. 2: Schematic representation of the different CAR Architecture (V1 to V6).

FIG. 3: Degranulation activity of CARs from the 4 different scFv's, when CAR+ T-cells were co-cultured for 6 hours with BCMA expressing cells (RPMI8226 or H929), or with cells that do not express BCMA (K562). Three different architectures were tested for the BC30 and BC50 scFv's (v1, v3 and v5), while only two were tested for the two other scFv's C11D5.3 and C13F12.1 (v3 and v5).

FIG. 4: Degranulation activity (CD107a+ cells) of CAR T-cells after 6 h co-cultures with BCMAneg cells (K562) or cells expressing BCMA (RPMI8226 and NCI-H929). Co-cultures were started 24 h after CAR mRNA electroporation. Three different architectures were tested for the BC30 and BC50 scFv's (v1, v3 and v5). The results represent the mean values of three independent experiments.

FIG. 5: IFNgamma released by T-cells when co-cultured for 24 h with cells expressing BCMA (NCI-H929 or RPMI8226), or with cells that do not express BCMA (K562). IFNgamma release from T-cells cultured alone, in the same conditions that the co-cultures, is also shown. Three different architectures were tested for the BC30 and BC50 scFv's (v1, v3 and v5). The experiments were done for three independent donors.

FIG. 6: Specific cytolytic activity of CAR-T cells. Three different architectures were tested for the BC30 and BC50 scFv's (v1, v3 and v5). Assays were done 48 h after CAR mRNA transfection. T-cells were co-cultured with K562+RPMI8226 or K562+NCIH929 cells for 4 hours. Cellular viability for each of the cell lines was determined at the end of the co-cultured and a specific cell lysis percentage was calculated.

TABLE 1 Sequence of the different CAR components Functional domains SEQ ID # Raw amino acid sequence CD8α signal peptide SEQ ID NO. 1 MALPVTALLLPLALLLHAARP Alternative signal peptide SEQ ID NO. 2 METDTLLLWVLLLWVPGSTG FcγRIIIα hinge SEQ ID NO. 3 GLAVSTISSFFPPGYQ CD8α hinge SEQ ID NO. 4 TTTPAPRPPTPAPTIASQPLSLRPEA CRPAAGGAVHTRGLDFACD IgG1 hinge SEQ ID NO. 5 EPKSPDKTHTCPPCPAPPVAGPSV FLFPPKPKDTLMIARTPEVTCVVVD VSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKT KPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDW LNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKA KGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQV SLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVD KSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHY TQKSLSLSPGK CD8α transmembrane domain SEQ ID NO. 6 IYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYC 41BB transmembrane domain SEQ ID NO. 7 IISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVV 41BB intracellular domain SEQ ID NO. 8 KRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEE DGCSCRFPEEEEGGCEL CD3ζ intracellular domain SEQ ID NO. 9 RVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNEL NLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGG KPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAY SEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLST ATKDTYDALHMQALPPR Linker SEQ ID NO. 10 GGGGSGGGGSGGGGS

TABLE 2 Sequence of the different CAR components ScFv sequences SEQ ID # Raw amino acid sequence BCMA-50 heavy SEQ ID QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASG chain variable NO. 11 YSFPDYYINWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWIY region FASGNSEYNQKFTGRVTMTRDTSINTA YMELSSLTSEDTAVYFCASLYDYDWYF DVWGQGTMVTVSS BCMA-50 light SEQ ID DIVMTQTPLSLSVTPGQPASISCKSSQS chain variable NO. 12 LVHSNGNTYLHWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYK region VSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLKISR VEAEDVGIYYCSQSSIYPWTFGQGTKL EIK BCMA-30 heavy SEQ ID QVQLVQSGAEVKKPGASVKVSCKASG chain variable NO. 13 YSFPDYYINWVRQAPGQGLEWMGWIY region FASGNSEYNQKFTGRVTMTRDTSSST AYMELSSLRSEDTAVYFCASLYDYDWY FDVWGQGTMVTVSS BCMA-30 light SEQ ID DIVMTQTPLSLSVTPGEPASISCKSSQS chain variable NO. 14 LVHSNGNTYLHWYLQKPGQSPQLLIYK region VSNRFSGVPDRFSGSGSGADFTLKISR VEAEDVGVYYCAETSHVPWTFGQGTK LEIK C11D5.3 heavy SEQ ID QIQLVQSGPELKKPGETVKISCKASGYT chain variable NO. 15 FTDYSINWVKRAPGKGLKWMGWINTE region TREPAYAYDFRGRFAFSLETSASTAYL QINNLKYEDTATYFCALDYSYAMDYWG QGTSVTVSS C11D5.3 light SEQ ID DIVLTGSPPSLAMSLGKRATISCRASES chain variable NO. 16 VTILGSHLIHWYQQKPGQPPTLLIQLAS region NVQTGVPARFSGSGSRTDFTLTIDPVE EDDVAVYYCLQSRTIPRTFGGGTKLEIK C13F12.1 heavy SEQ ID QIQLVQSGPELKKPGETVKISCKASGYT chain variable NO. 17 FTHYSMNWVKQAPGKGLKWMGRINTE region TGEPLYADDFKGRFAFSLETSASTAYL VINNLKNEDTATFFCSNDYLYSCDYWG RGTTLTVSS C13F12.1 light SEQ ID DIVLTQSPPSLAMSLGKRATISCRASES chain variable NO. 18 VTILGSHLIYWYQQKPGQPPTLLIQLAS region NVQTGVPARFSGSGSRTDFTLTIDPVE EDDVAVYYCLQSRTIPRTFGGGTKLEIK

TABLE 3 CAR of structure V-1 CAR Structure CAR signal Designation peptide FcγRIIIα CD3ζ V-1 (optional) VH VL hinge CD8α TM 41BB-IC CD BC50-1 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.11 NO.12 NO.3 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.19) BC30-1 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.13 NO.14 NO.3 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.25) C11D53-1 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.15 NO.16 NO.3 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.31) C13F12-1 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.17 NO.18 NO.3 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.37)

TABLE 4 CAR of structure V-2 CAR Structure CAR signal Designation peptide FcγRIIIα CD3ζ V-2 (optional) VH VL hinge 41BB-TM 41BB-IC CD BC50-2 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.11 NO.12 NO.3 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.20) BC30-2 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.13 NO.14 NO.3 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.26) C11D53-2 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.15 NO.16 NO.3 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.32) C13F12-2 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.17 NO.18 NO.3 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.38)

TABLE 5 CAR of structure V-3 CAR Structure CAR signal Designation peptide CD8α CD3ζ V-3 (optional) VH VL hinge CD8α TM 41BB-IC CD BC50-3 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.11 NO.12 NO.4 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.21) BC30-3 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.13 NO.14 NO.4 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.27) C11D53-3 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.15 NO.16 NO.4 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.33) C13F12-3 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.17 NO.18 NO.4 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.39)

TABLE 6 CAR of structure V-4 CAR Structure CAR signal Designation peptide CD8α CD3ζ V-4 (optional) VH VL hinge 41BB-TM 41BB-IC CD BC50-4 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.11 NO.12 NO.4 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.22) BC30-4 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.13 NO.14 NO.4 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.28) C11D53-4 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.15 NO.16 NO.4 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.34) C13F12-5 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.17 NO.18 NO.4 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.40)

TABLE 7 CAR of structure V-5 CAR Structure CAR signal Designation peptide IgG1 CD3ζ V-5 (optional) VH VL hinge CD8α TM 41BB-IC CD BC50-5 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.11 NO.12 NO.5 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.23) BC30-5 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.13 NO.14 NO.5 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.29) C11D53-5 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.15 NO.16 NO.5 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.35) C13F12-5 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.17 NO.18 NO.5 NO.6 NO.8 NO.9 NO.41)

TABLE 8 CAR of structure V-6 CAR Structure CAR signal Designation peptide IgG1 CD3ζ V-6 (optional) VH VL hinge 41BB-TM 41BB-IC CD BC50-6 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.11 NO.12 NO.5 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.24) BC30-6 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.13 NO.14 NO.5 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.30) C11D53-6 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.15 NO.16 NO.5 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.36) C13F12-6 SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO.1 NO.17 NO.18 NO.5 NO.7 NO.8 NO.9 NO.42)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used have the same meaning as commonly understood by a skilled artisan in the fields of gene therapy, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology.

All methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, with suitable methods and materials being described herein. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will prevail. Further, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting, unless otherwise specified.

The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques of cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology, transgenic biology, microbiology, recombinant DNA, and immunology, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, for example, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Frederick M. AUSUBEL, 2000, Wiley and son Inc, Library of Congress, USA); Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Third Edition, (Sambrook et al, 2001, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press); Oligonucleotide Synthesis (M. J. Gait ed., 1984); Mullis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195; Nucleic Acid Hybridization (B. D. Harries & S. J. Higgins eds. 1984); Transcription And Translation (B. D. Hames & S. J. Higgins eds. 1984); Culture Of Animal Cells (R. I. Freshney, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1987); Immobilized Cells And Enzymes (IRL Press, 1986); B. Perbal, A Practical Guide To Molecular Cloning (1984); the series, Methods In ENZYMOLOGY (J. Abelson and M. Simon, eds.-in-chief, Academic Press, Inc., New York), specifically, Vols. 154 and 155 (Wu et al. eds.) and Vol. 185, “Gene Expression Technology” (D. Goeddel, ed.); Gene Transfer Vectors For Mammalian Cells (J. H. Miller and M. P. Cabs eds., 1987, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory); Immunochemical Methods In Cell And Molecular Biology (Mayer and Walker, eds., Academic Press, London, 1987); Handbook Of Experimental Immunology, Volumes I-IV (D. M. Weir and C. C. Blackwell, eds., 1986); and Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1986).

BCMA specific Chimeric Antigen Receptors

The present invention relates to new designs of anti-BCMA chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane domain and a signaling transducing domain.

The term “extracellular ligand-binding domain” as used herein is defined as an oligo- or polypeptide that is capable of binding a ligand. Preferably, the domain will be capable of interacting with a cell surface molecule. For example, the extracellular ligand-binding domain may be chosen to recognize a ligand that acts as a cell surface marker on target cells associated with a particular disease state. In a preferred embodiment, said extracellular ligand-binding domain comprises a single chain antibody fragment (scFv) comprising the light (V_(L)) and the heavy (V_(H)) variable fragment of a target antigen specific monoclonal anti BCMAantibody joined by a flexible linker. Said V_(L) and V_(H) are preferably selected from the antibodies referred to as BCMA-50, BCMA-30, C11D5.3 and C13F12.1 as indicated in Table 2. They are preferably linked together by a flexible linker comprising for instance the sequence SEQ ID NO.10.

In a more preferred embodiment Said V_(L) and V_(H) are preferably selected from the antibodies referred to as BCMA-50 (BC50) and BCMA-30 (BC30) as indicated in Table 2.

In some embodiments, the extracellular ligand-binding domain comprises a scFv comprising the light chain variable (VL) region and the heavy chain variable (VH) region of a BCMA specific monoclonal antibody joined by a flexible linker. Single chain variable region fragments are made by linking light and/or heavy chain variable regions by using a short linking peptide (Bird et al., Science 242:423-426, 1988). In general, linkers of the present invention are short, flexible polypeptides and preferably comprised at least 20 or fewer amino acid residues. Linkers of the present invention can in turn be modified for additional functions, such as attachment of drugs or attachment to solid supports. An example of a linking peptide is the GS linker having the amino acid sequence (GGGGS)₃ (SEQ ID NO:10), which bridges approximately 3.5 nm between the carboxy terminus of one variable region and the amino terminus of the other variable region. Linkers of other sequences have been designed and used (Bird et al., 1988, supra). The single chain variants can be produced either recombinantly or synthetically. For synthetic production of scFv, an automated synthesizer can be used. For recombinant production of scFv, a suitable plasmid containing polynucleotide that encodes the scFv can be introduced into a suitable host cell, either eukaryotic, such as yeast, plant, insect or mammalian cells, or prokaryotic, such as E. coli. Polynucleotides encoding the scFv of interest can be made by routine manipulations such as ligation of polynucleotides. The resultant scFv can be isolated using standard protein purification techniques known in the art.

In other words, said CARs preferentially comprise an extracellular ligand-binding domain comprising a polypeptide sequence displaying at least 90%, 95%, 97% 99%, or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11 to SEQ ID NO: 18. In a more preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise an extracellular ligand-binding domain comprising a polypeptide sequence displaying at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 13, SEQ ID NO: 14 and a combination thereof.

The signal transducing domain or intracellular signaling domain of a CAR according to the present invention is responsible for intracellular signaling following the binding of extracellular ligand binding domain to the target resulting in the activation of the immune cell and immune response. In other words, the signal transducing domain is responsible for the activation of at least one of the normal effector functions of the immune cell in which the CAR is expressed. For example, the effector function of a T cell can be a cytolytic activity or helper activity including the secretion of cytokines. Thus, the term “signal transducing domain” refers to the portion of a protein which transduces the effector signal function signal and directs the cell to perform a specialized function.

Preferred examples of signal transducing domain for use in a CAR can be the cytoplasmic sequences of the T cell receptor and co-receptors that act in concert to initiate signal transduction following antigen receptor engagement, as well as any derivate or variant of these sequences and any synthetic sequence that has the same functional capability. Signal transduction domain comprises two distinct classes of cytoplasmic signaling sequence, those that initiate antigen-dependent primary activation, and those that act in an antigen-independent manner to provide a secondary or co-stimulatory signal. Primary cytoplasmic signaling sequence can comprise signaling motifs which are known as immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs of ITAMs. ITAMs are well defined signaling motifs found in the intracytoplasmic tail of a variety of receptors that serve as binding sites for syk/zap70 class tyrosine kinases. Examples of ITAM used in the invention can include as non-limiting examples those derived from TCRzeta, FcRgamma, FcRbeta, FcRepsilon, CD3gamma, CD3delta, CD3epsilon, CD5, CD22, CD79a, CD79b and CD66d. In a preferred embodiment, the signaling transducing domain of the CAR can comprise the CD3zeta signaling domain which has amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97% or 99% sequence identity with amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (SEQ ID NO: 9).

In particular embodiment the signal transduction domain of the CAR of the present invention comprises a co-stimulatory signal molecule. A co-stimulatory molecule is a cell surface molecule other than an antigen receptor or their ligands that is required for an efficient immune response. “Co-stimulatory ligand” refers to a molecule on an antigen presenting cell that specifically binds a cognate co-stimulatory molecule on a T-cell, thereby providing a signal which, in addition to the primary signal provided by, for instance, binding of a TCR/CD3 complex with an MHC molecule loaded with peptide, mediates a T cell response, including, but not limited to, proliferation activation, differentiation and the like. A co-stimulatory ligand can include but is not limited to CD7, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), PD-L1, PD-L2, 4-1BBL, OX40L, inducible costimulatory ligand (ICOS-L), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM, CD30L, CD40, CD70, CD83, HLA-G, MICA, M1CB, HVEM, lymphotoxin beta receptor, 3/TR6, ILT3, ILT4, an agonist or antibody that binds Toll ligand receptor and a ligand that specifically binds with B7-H3. A co-stimulatory ligand also encompasses, inter alia, an antibody that specifically binds with a co-stimulatory molecule present on a T cell, such as but not limited to, CD27, CD28, 4-1BB, OX40, CD30, CD40, PD-1, ICOS, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), CD2, CD7, LTGHT, NKG2C, B7-H3, a ligand that specifically binds with CD83.

A “co-stimulatory molecule” refers to the cognate binding partner on a T-cell that specifically binds with a co-stimulatory ligand, thereby mediating a co-stimulatory response by the cell, such as, but not limited to proliferation. Co-stimulatory molecules include, but are not limited to, an MHC class I molecule, BTLA and Toll ligand receptor. Examples of costimulatory molecules include CD27, CD28, CD8, 4-1BB (CD137), OX40, CD30, CD40, PD-1, ICOS, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), CD2, CD7, LIGHT, NKG2C, B7-H3 and a ligand that specifically binds with CD83 and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the signal transduction domain of the CAR of the present invention comprises a part of co-stimulatory signal molecule selected from the group consisting of fragment of 4-1BB (GenBank: AAA53133.) and CD28 (NP_006130.1). In particular the signal transduction domain of the CAR of the present invention comprises amino acid sequence which comprises at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97% or 99% sequence identity with amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 8.

A CAR according to the present invention is expressed on the surface membrane of the cell. Thus, such CAR further comprises a transmembrane domain. The distinguishing features of appropriate transmembrane domains comprise the ability to be expressed at the surface of a cell, preferably in the present invention an immune cell, in particular lymphocyte cells or Natural killer (NK) cells, and to interact together for directing cellular response of immune cell against a predefined target cell. The transmembrane domain can be derived either from a natural or from a synthetic source. The transmembrane domain can be derived from any membrane-bound or transmembrane protein. As non-limiting examples, the transmembrane polypeptide can be a subunit of the T-cell receptor such as α, β, γ or δ, polypeptide constituting CD3 complex, IL2 receptor p55 (α chain), p75 (β chain) or γ chain, subunit chain of Fc receptors, in particular Fcγ receptor III or CD proteins. Alternatively the transmembrane domain can be synthetic and can comprise predominantly hydrophobic residues such as leucine and valine. In a preferred embodiment said transmembrane domain is derived from the human CD8 alpha chain (e.g. NP_001139345.1) The transmembrane domain can further comprise a hinge region between said extracellular ligand-binding domain and said transmembrane domain. The term “hinge region” used herein generally means any oligo- or polypeptide that functions to link the transmembrane domain to the extracellular ligand-binding domain. In particular, hinge region are used to provide more flexibility and accessibility for the extracellular ligand-binding domain. A hinge region may comprise up to 300 amino acids, preferably 10 to 100 amino acids and most preferably 25 to 50 amino acids. Hinge region may be derived from all or part of naturally occurring molecules, such as from all or part of the extracellular region of CD8, CD4 or CD28, or from all or part of an antibody constant region. Alternatively the hinge region may be a synthetic sequence that corresponds to a naturally occurring hinge sequence, or may be an entirely synthetic hinge sequence. In a preferred embodiment said hinge domain comprises a part of human CD8 alpha chain, FcγRIIIα receptor or IgG1 respectively referred to in this specification as SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4 and SEQ ID NO.5, or hinge polypeptides which display preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97% or 99% sequence identity with these polypeptides.

A car according to the invention generally further comprises a transmembrane domain (TM) more particularly selected from CD8α and 4-1BB, showing identity with the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO. 6 or 7, preferably with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO 6.

A car according to the invention generally further comprises a transmembrane domain (TM) more particularly selected from CD8α, showing identity with the polypeptides of SEQ ID NO. 6,

In a preferred embodiment, a CAR according to the invention further comprises a TM domain from CD8α with SEQ ID NO. 6 or showing at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 6

Downregulation or mutation of target antigens is commonly observed in cancer cells, creating antigen-loss escape variants. Thus, to offset tumor escape and render immune cell more specific to target, the BCMA specific CAR according to the invention can comprise another extracellular ligand-binding domains, to simultaneously bind different elements in target thereby augmenting immune cell activation and function. In one embodiment, the extracellular ligand-binding domains can be placed in tandem on the same transmembrane polypeptide, and optionally can be separated by a linker. In another embodiment, said different extracellular ligand-binding domains can be placed on different transmembrane polypeptides composing the CAR. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a population of CARs comprising each one different extracellular ligand binding domains. In a particular, the present invention relates to a method of engineering immune cells comprising providing an immune cell and expressing at the surface of said cell a population of CAR each one comprising different extracellular ligand binding domains. In another particular embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of engineering an immune cell comprising providing an immune cell and introducing into said cell polynucleotides encoding polypeptides composing a population of CAR each one comprising different extracellular ligand binding domains. By population of CARs, it is meant at least two, three, four, five, six or more CARs each one comprising different extracellular ligand binding domains. The different extracellular ligand binding domains according to the present invention can preferably simultaneously bind different elements in target thereby augmenting immune cell activation and function. The present invention also relates to an isolated immune cell which comprises a population of CARs each one comprising different extracellular ligand binding domains.

The present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure selected from V1 to V6 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody, a hinge selected from a FcRIIIalpha(α) hinge, a CD8α hinge and an IgG1 hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

The present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure selected from V1, V3 and V5 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody, a hinge selected from a FcRIIIα hinge, a CD8 alpha (α) hinge and an IgG1 hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

In particular, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure selected from V1, V3 and V5 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain derived from a VH and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody, a hinge selected from a FcRIIIα hinge, a CD8 alpha (α) hinge and an IgG1 hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB, more particularly the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure selected from V1, V3 and V5 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain derived from a VH and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody selected from BC50 and BC30, a hinge selected from a FcRIIIα hinge, a CD8 alpha (α) hinge and an IgG1 hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure selected from V1, V3 and V5 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain derived from a VH having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.11, and SEQ ID NO.13, and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.12, and SEQ ID NO.14, a hinge selected from a FcRIIIα hinge, a CD8 alpha (α) hinge and an IgG1 hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure V5 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain derived from a VH having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.11, and SEQ ID NO.13 and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.12 and SEQ ID NO.14, an IgG1 hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure V1 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain derived from a VH having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.11, and SEQ ID NO.13 and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.12 and SEQ ID NO.14, a FcRIIIα hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure V3 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain derived from a VH having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.11, and SEQ ID NO.13 and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO.12 and SEQ ID NO.14, a CD8 alpha (α) hinge, a CD8α transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising one of the following polypeptide:

(BC50-1) SEQ ID NO. 48 

YCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQG QNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEG MKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR (BC50-3) SEQ ID NO. 50

HTRGLDFACDIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCS CRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMG GKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALH MQALPPR (BC50-5) SEQ ID NO. 52

MIARTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQ DWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFY PSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSPGKIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEE DGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRD PEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTY DALHMQALPPR (BC30-1) SEQ ID NO. 54

TLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQ QGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSE IGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR (BC30-3) SEQ ID NO. 56

VHTRGLDFACDIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGC SCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEM GGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDAL HMQALPPR (BC30-5) SEQ ID NO. 58

LMIARTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQ DWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFY PSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSPGKIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEE DGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRD PEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTY DALHMQALPPR. (BC50-3) In particular SEQ ID NO. 50

HTRGLDFACDIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCS CRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMG GKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALH MQALPPR or (BC30-3) SEQ ID NO. 56

VHTRGLDFACDIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGC SCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEM GGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDAL HMQALPPR. In a more preferred embodiment an anti-BCMA CAR of the invention comprises one of the sequence above which is humanized.

As used herein, the term “humanized” or “conservative sequence modifications” or “humanization” is intended to refer to amino acid modifications that do not significantly affect or alter the characteristics of the CAR (as compared to that of a CAR constructed using the original anti-BCMA antibody or anti-BCMA scFv) and/or that do not significantly affect the activity of the CAR containing the modified amino acid sequence and reduce or abolish a possible human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response.

The humanized CAR of the invention does not induce an immune response (in particular HAMA) directed against the CAR when expressed in the context of a primary T cell. Such conservative modifications include amino acid substitutions, additions and deletions in said antibody fragment in said CAR and/or any of the other parts of said CAR molecule. Modifications can be introduced into an antibody, into an antibody fragment or in any of the other parts of the CAR molecule of the invention by standard techniques known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis, PCR-mediated mutagenesis or by employing optimized germline sequences. Accordingly, the present invention provides a (humanized) BCMA CAR, wherein VH has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO 11 or SEQ ID NO 13, and VL has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO 12 or SEQ ID NO14.

Conservative amino acid substitutions are ones in which the amino acid residue is replaced with an amino acid residue having a similar side chain. Families of amino acid residues having similar side chains have been defined in the art. These families include amino acids with basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine, tryptophan), nonpolar side chains (e.g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) and aromatic side chains (e.g., tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine). Thus, one or more amino acid residues within a CAR of the invention can be replaced with other amino acid residues from the same side chain family and the altered CAR can be tested for the ability to bind BCMA using the functional assays described herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from Fcgamma (γ) RIIIalpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%,         95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 3;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with amino acid of SEQ ID NO:         9;

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from Fcgamma (γ) RIIIalpha (α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%,         95% 97%; 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 3;     -   a transmembrane domain (TM) derived from 4-1BB having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 7;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from human CD8 alpha chain having an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 4;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9;

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from human CD8 alpha chain having an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97% 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 4;     -   a transmembrane domain (TM) derived from 4-1BB having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 7;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from IgG1 having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97% 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 5;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9;

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from IgG1 having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97% 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 5;     -   a transmembrane domain (TM) derived from 4-1BB having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 7;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from Fcgamma (γ) RIIIalpha (α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%,         95% 97% 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 3;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with amino acid of SEQ ID NO:         9;

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from IgG1 having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%. 95% 97% 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 5;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9;

In an even more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; preferably said linker is a         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10.     -   a Hinge derived from human CD8 alpha chain having an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 4;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9;

In particular, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, preferably         said linker is a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; said VH having an amino         acid sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%,         95%, 97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 11, and said VL having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 12     -   a Hinge derived from human CD8 alpha chain having an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 4;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6;     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9;

In particular, the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor comprising:

-   -   a optional signal peptide having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2;         preferably the optional signal peptide has an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%,         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ         ID NO 1. Preferably, the signal peptide is present.     -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, preferably         said linker is a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO.10, said VH and VL         contributing to the binding to BCMA; said VH having an amino         acid sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%,         95%, 97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 13, and said VL having an amino acid sequence with at         least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%, 97%, 99% or 100%         sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 14     -   a Hinge derived from human CD8 alpha chain having an amino acid         sequence with at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of         SEQ ID NO. 4;     -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha(α) having an amino         acid sequence with at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%,         97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID         NO. 6.     -   a co-stimulatory signal molecule derived from 4-1BB having an         amino acid sequence with at least 70%, preferably at least 80%,         more preferably at least 90%, 95% 97%, 99% or 100% sequence         identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   an intracellular signaling domain comprising the CD3zeta         signaling domain having an amino acid sequence with at least         70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, 95%         97%, 99% or 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence         of SEQ ID NO: 9.

In one preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48,

In one preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 50,

In one preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52

In one preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 54,

In one preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56,

In one preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58.

In a more preferred embodiment, said CARs comprise a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50 or a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56.

Human anti-BCMA antibodies (or scFv) can also be made by immunization of animals into which human immunoglobulin loci have been transgenically introduced in place of the endogenous loci, e.g., mice in which the endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially or completely inactivated. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; and 5,661,016. Alternatively, the human antibody may be prepared by immortalizing human B lymphocytes that produce an antibody directed against a target antigen (such B lymphocytes may be recovered from an individual or from single cell cloning of the cDNA, or may have been immunized in vitro). See, e.g., Cole et al. Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77, 1985; Boerner et al., J. Immunol., 147 (1):86-95, 1991; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,373.

Polynucleotides, Vectors:

The present invention also relates to polynucleotides, vectors encoding the above described CAR according to the invention.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48,

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 50,

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 54,

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56,

In one embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58.

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50 or polynucleotides, vectors encoding a BCMA CAR comprising polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56.

The polynucleotides of this invention can be obtained using chemical synthesis, recombinant methods, or PCR. Methods of chemical polynucleotide synthesis are well known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. One of skill in the art can use the sequences provided herein and a commercial DNA synthesizer to produce a desired DNA sequence.

For preparing polynucleotides using recombinant methods, a polynucleotide comprising a desired sequence can be inserted into a suitable vector, and the vector in turn can be introduced into a suitable host cell for replication and amplification, as further discussed herein. Polynucleotides may be inserted into host cells by any means known in the art. Cells are transformed by introducing an exogenous polynucleotide by direct uptake, endocytosis, transfection, F-mating or electroporation. Once introduced, the exogenous polynucleotide can be maintained within the cell as a non-integrated vector (such as a plasmid) or integrated into the host cell genome. The polynucleotide so amplified can be isolated from the host cell by methods well known within the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989.

Alternatively, PCR allows reproduction of DNA sequences. PCR technology is well known in the art and is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195, 4,800,159, 4,754,065 and 4,683,202, as well as PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction, Mullis et al. eds., Birkauswer Press, Boston, 1994.

RNA can be obtained by using the isolated DNA in an appropriate vector and inserting it into a suitable host cell. When the cell replicates and the DNA is transcribed into RNA, the RNA can then be isolated using methods well known to those of skill in the art, as set forth in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra, for example.

Suitable cloning vectors may be constructed according to standard techniques, or may be selected from a large number of cloning vectors available in the art. While the cloning vector selected may vary according to the host cell intended to be used, useful cloning vectors will generally have the ability to self-replicate, may possess a single target for a particular restriction endonuclease, and/or may carry genes for a marker that can be used in selecting clones containing the vector. Suitable examples include plasmids and bacterial viruses, e.g., pUC18, pUC19, Bluescript (e.g., pBS SK+) and its derivatives, mp18, mp19, pBR322, pMB9, ColE1, pCR1, RP4, phage DNAs, and shuttle vectors such as pSA3 and pAT28. These and many other cloning vectors are available from commercial vendors such as BioRad, Strategene, and Invitrogen.

Expression vectors generally are replicable polynucleotide constructs that contain a polynucleotide according to the invention. It is implied that an expression vector must be replicable in the host cells either as episomes or as an integral part of the chromosomal DNA. Suitable expression vectors include but are not limited to plasmids, viral vectors, including adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, retroviruses, cosmids, and expression vector(s) disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 87/04462. Vector components may generally include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: a signal sequence; an origin of replication; one or more marker genes; suitable transcriptional controlling elements (such as promoters, enhancers and terminator). For expression (i.e., translation), one or more translational controlling elements are also usually required, such as ribosome binding sites, translation initiation sites, and stop codons.

The vectors containing the polynucleotides of interest can be introduced into the host cell by any of a number of appropriate means, including electroporation, transfection employing calcium chloride, rubidium chloride, calcium phosphate, DEAE-dextran, or other substances; microprojectile bombardment; lipofection; and infection (e.g., where the vector is an infectious agent such as vaccinia virus). The choice of introducing vectors or polynucleotides will often depend on features of the host cell.

A polynucleotide encoding a BCMA specific CAR disclosed herein may exist in an expression cassette or expression vector (e.g., a plasmid for introduction into a bacterial host cell, or a viral vector such as a baculovirus vector for transfection of an insect host cell, or a plasmid or viral vector such as a lentivirus for transfection of a mammalian host cell). In some embodiments, a polynucleotide or vector can include a nucleic acid sequence encoding ribosomal skip sequences such as, for example without limitation, a sequence encoding a 2A peptide. 2A peptides, which were identified in the Aphthovirus subgroup of picornaviruses, causes a ribosomal “skip” from one codon to the next without the formation of a peptide bond between the two amino acids encoded by the codons [see (Donnelly and Elliott 2001; Atkins, Wills et al. 2007; Doronina, Wu et al. 2008)]. By “codon” is meant three nucleotides on an mRNA (or on the sense strand of a DNA molecule) that are translated by a ribosome into one amino acid residue. Thus, two polypeptides can be synthesized from a single, contiguous open reading frame within an imRNA when the polypeptides are separated by a 2A oligopeptide sequence that is in frame. Such ribosomal skip mechanisms are well known in the art and are known to be used by several vectors for the expression of several proteins encoded by a single messenger RNA.

To direct transmembrane polypeptides into the secretory pathway of a host cell, in some embodiments, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in a polynucleotide sequence or vector sequence. The secretory signal sequence is operably linked to the transmembrane nucleic acid sequence, i.e., the two sequences are joined in the correct reading frame and positioned to direct the newly synthesized polypeptide into the secretory pathway of the host cell. Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5 to the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain secretory signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in the nucleic acid sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,830).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in view of the degeneracy of the genetic code, considerable sequence variation is possible among these polynucleotide molecules. In some embodiments, nucleic acid sequences of the invention are codon-optimized for expression in mammalian cells, preferably for expression in human cells. Codon-optimization refers to the exchange in a sequence of interest of codons that are generally rare in highly expressed genes of a given species by codons that are generally frequent in highly expressed genes of such species, such codons encoding the amino acids as the codons that are being exchanged.

The polynucleotide may consist in an expression cassette or expression vector (e.g. a plasmid for introduction into a bacterial host cell, or a viral vector such as a baculovirus vector for transfection of an insect host cell, or a plasmid or viral vector such as a lentivirus for transfection of a mammalian host cell).

In a particular embodiment, the different nucleic acid sequences can be included in one polynucleotide or vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding ribosomal skip sequence such as a sequence encoding a 2A peptide. 2A peptides, which were identified in the Aphthovirus subgroup of picornaviruses, causes a ribosomal “skip” from one codon to the next without the formation of a peptide bond between the two amino acids encoded by the codons (see (Donnelly and Elliott 2001; Atkins, Wills et al. 2007; Doronina, Wu et al. 2008)). By “codon” is meant three nucleotides on an mRNA (or on the sense strand of a DNA molecule) that are translated by a ribosome into one amino acid residue. Thus, two polypeptides can be synthesized from a single, contiguous open reading frame within an mRNA when the polypeptides are separated by a 2A oligopeptide sequence that is in frame. Such ribosomal skip mechanisms are well known in the art and are known to be used by several vectors for the expression of several proteins encoded by a single messenger RNA.

To direct transmembrane polypeptide into the secretory pathway of a host cell, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in polynucleotide sequence or vector sequence. The secretory signal sequence is operably linked to the transmembrane nucleic acid sequence, i.e., the two sequences are joined in the correct reading frame and positioned to direct the newly synthesized polypeptide into the secretory pathway of the host cell. Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5′ to the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain secretory signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in the nucleic acid sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,830). In a preferred embodiment the signal peptide comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in view of the degeneracy of the genetic code, considerable sequence variation is possible among these polynucleotide molecules. Preferably, the nucleic acid sequences of the present invention are codon-optimized for expression in mammalian cells, preferably for expression in human cells. Codon-optimization refers to the exchange in a sequence of interest of codons that are generally rare in highly expressed genes of a given species by codons that are generally frequent in highly expressed genes of such species, such codons encoding the amino acids as the codons that are being exchanged.

Methods of Engineering Immune Cells Endowed with CARs:

The present invention encompasses the method of preparing immune cells for immunotherapy comprising introducing ex-vivo into said immune cells the polynucleotides or vectors encoding one of the BCMA CAR as previously described.

In a preferred embodiment, said polynucleotides are included in lentiviral vectors in view of being stably expressed in the immune cells.

According to further embodiments, said method further comprises the step of genetically modifying said cell to make them more suitable for allogeneic transplantation.

According to a first aspect, the immune cell can be made less allogeneic, for instance, by inactivating at least one gene expressing one or more component of T-cell receptor (TCR) as described in WO 2013/176915, which can be combined with the inactivation of a gene encoding or regulating HLA or β2 m protein expression. Accordingly the risk of graft versus host syndrome and graft rejection is significantly reduced. In a preferred embodiment knock out TCR T cells are prepared by deleting said TCR by a method for engineering the immune cells described herein.

According to another aspect, the immune cells can be further genetically engineered to improve their resistance to immunosuppressive drugs or chemotherapy treatments, which are used as standard care for treating BCMA positive malignant cells. For instance, CD52 and glucocorticoid receptors (GR), which are drug targets of Campath (alemtuzumab) and glucocorticoids treatments, can be inactivated to make the cells resistant to these treatments and give them a competitive advantage over patient's own T-cells not endowed with specific BCMA CARs. Expression of CD3 gene can also be suppressed or reduced to confer resistance to Teplizumab, which is another immune suppressive drug. Expression of HPRT can also be suppressed or reduced according to the invention to confer resistance to 6-thioguanine, a cytostatic agent commonly used in chemotherapy especially for the treatment of acute lymphoblasic leukemia.

According to further aspect of the invention, the immune cells can be further manipulated to make them more active or limit exhaustion, by inactivating genes encoding proteins that act as “immune checkpoints” that act as regulators of T-cells activation, such as PDCD1 or CTLA-4. Examples of genes, which expression could be reduced or suppressed are indicated in Table 9.

TABLE 9 List of genes encoding immune checkpoint proteins. Genes that can be inactivated Pathway In the pathway Co-inhibitory CTLA4 (CD152) CTLA4, PPP2CA, PPP2CB, receptors PTPN6, PTPN22 PDCD1 (PD-1, CD279) PDCD1 CD223 (lag3) LAG3 HAVCR2 (tim3) HAVCR2 BTLA (cd272) BTLA CD160 (by55) CD160 IgSF family TIGIT CD96 CRTAM LAIR1 (cd305) LAIR1 SIGLECs SIGLEC7 SIGLEC9 CD244 (2b4) CD244 Death TRAIL TNFRSF10B, TNFRSF10A, receptors CASP8, CASP10, CASP3, CASP6, CASP7 FAS FADD, FAS Cytokine TGF-beta TGFBRII, TGFBRI, SMAD2, signalling signaling SMAD3, SMAD4, SMAD10, SKI, SKIL, TGIF1 IL10 signalling IL10RA, IL10RB, HMOX2 IL6 signalling IL6R, IL65T Prevention of CSK, PAG1 TCR signalling SIT1 Induced Treg induced Treg FOXP3 Transcription transcription PRDM1 (= blimp1, hetero- factors factors zygotes mice control chronic controlling controlling viral infection better than wt exhaustion exhaustion or conditional KO) BATF Hypoxia iNOS induced GUCY1A2, GUCY1A3, mediated guanylated cyclase GUCY1B2, GUCY1B3 tolerance

In a preferred embodiment said method of further engineering the immune cells involves introducing into said T cells polynucleotides, in particular mRNAs, encoding specific rare-cutting endonuclease to selectively inactivate the genes, as those mentioned above, by DNA cleavage. In a more preferred embodiment said rare-cutting endonucleases are TALE-nucleases or Cas9 endonuclease. TAL-nucleases have so far proven higher specificity and cleavage efficiency over the other types of rare-cutting endonucleases, making them the endonucleases of choice for producing of the engineered immune cells on a large scale with a constant turn-over.

Expression of Drug Resistance Genes in Anti-BCMA CAR-Expressing Immune Cells

According to further aspects of the invention, the immune cells can be further manipulated to make them resistant to the most commonly used drugs or chemotherapy agents, for example cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vincristine (Vincasar, Oncovin), or prednisone (multiple brand names).

Chemotherapy used as anti-cancer drugs are usually injected into a vein or taken by mouth. These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach almost all areas of the body, making this treatment very useful for lymphoma.

BCMA CAR T cells of the invention are further engineered to be able to survive and proliferate in the presence of said anticancer drugs.

In a particular embodiment, said drug resistance can be conferred to the T-cell by the expression of at least one drug resistance gene. Said drug resistance gene refers to a nucleic acid sequence that encodes “resistance” to an agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent (e.g. methotrexate). In other words, the expression of the drug resistance gene in a cell permits proliferation of the cells in the presence of the agent to the same or greater extent than the proliferation of a corresponding cell without the drug resistance gene. The expression of the drug resistance gene in a cell permits proliferation of the cells in the presence of the agent and does not affect its activity. A drug resistance gene of the invention can encode resistance to anti-metabolite, methotrexate, vinblastine, cisplatin, alkylating agents, anthracyclines, cytotoxic antibiotics, anti-immunophilins, their analogs or derivatives, and the like.

Examples of such anti-cancer chemotherapy may be

An Alkylating agent selected from

-   -   Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®)     -   Chlorambucil     -   Bendamustine (Treanda®)     -   Ifosfamide (Ifex®), or a combination thereof         A Corticosteroid such as     -   Prednisone or     -   Dexamethasone (Decadron®)         A Platinum drug selected from     -   Cisplatin     -   Carboplatin     -   Oxaliplatin, or combination thereof         A Purine analog selected from     -   Fludarabine (Fludara®)     -   Pentostatin (Nipent®)     -   Cladribine (2-CdA, Leustatin®), or a combination thereof         An Anti-metabolites selected from     -   Cytarabine (ara-C)     -   Gemcitabine (Gemzar®)     -   Methotrexate     -   Pralatrexate (Folotyn®), or a combination thereof         Others drugs selected from     -   Vincristine (Oncovin®)     -   Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®)     -   Mitoxantrone     -   Etoposide (VP-16)     -   Bleomycin, or a combination thereof

For this purpose the present invention provides a method comprising the following step:

-   -   (i) at least gene(s) conferring resistance to a said drug or to         several drugs is introduced into BCMA CAR T cells or     -   (ii) the expression of at least one gene (conferring sensitivity         or resistance) is inhibited or increased into BCMA CAR T cells.

In one embodiment, a drug resistance gene of the invention can confer resistance to a drug (or an agent), in particular an anti-cancer drug selected from Aracytine, Cytosine Arabinoside, amsacrine, Daunorubicine, Idarubicine, Novantrone, Mitoxantrone, Vepeside, Etoposide (VP16), arsenic trioxyde, transretinoic acid, combination of arsenic trioxyde, transretinoic acid, mechlorethamine, procarbazine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, anthracyclines, 6-thioguanine, hydroxyurea, prednisone, and combination thereof.

Several drug resistance genes have been identified that can potentially be used to confer drug resistance to anti-BCMA CAR T cells of the invention (Takebe, Zhao et al. 2001; Sugimoto, Tsukahara et al. 2003; Zielske, Reese et al. 2003; Nivens, Felder et al. 2004; Bardenheuer, Lehmberg et al. 2005; Kushman, Kabler et al. 2007).

One example of drug resistance gene can also be a mutant or modified form of Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR is an enzyme involved in regulating the amount of tetrahydrofolate in the cell and is essential to DNA synthesis. Folate analogs such as methotrexate (MTX) inhibit DHFR and are thus used as anti-neoplastic agents in clinic. Different mutant forms of DHFR which have increased resistance to inhibition by anti-folates used in therapy have been described. In a particular embodiment, the drug resistance gene according to the present invention can be a nucleic acid sequence encoding a mutant form of human wild type DHFR (GenBank: AAH71996.1) which comprises at least one mutation conferring resistance to an anti-folate treatment, such as methotrexate. In particular embodiment, mutant form of DHFR comprises at least one mutated amino acid at position G15, L22, F31 or F34, preferably at positions L22 or F31 (Schweitzer, Dicker et al. 1990); International application WO94/24277; U.S. Pat. No. 6,642,043). In a particular embodiment, said DHFR mutant form comprises two mutated amino acids at position L22 and F31. Correspondence of amino acid positions described herein is frequently expressed in terms of the positions of the amino acids of the form of wild-type DHFR polypeptide set forth in GenBank: AAH71996.1. In a particular embodiment, the serine residue at position 15 is preferably replaced with a tryptophan residue. In another particular embodiment, the leucine residue at position 22 is preferably replaced with an amino acid which will disrupt binding of the mutant DHFR to antifolates, preferably with uncharged amino acid residues such as phenylalanine or tyrosine. In another particular embodiment, the phenylalanine residue at positions 31 or 34 is preferably replaced with a small hydrophilic amino acid such as alanine, serine or glycine.

As used herein, “antifolate agent” or “folate analogs” refers to a molecule directed to interfere with the folate metabolic pathway at some level. Examples of antifolate agents include, e.g., methotrexate (MTX); aminopterin; trimetrexate (Neutrexin); edatrexate; N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717); ZD1694 (Tumodex), 5,8-dideazaisofolic acid (IAHQ); 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF); 5-deazafolic acid; PT523 (N alpha-(4-amino-4-deoxypteroyl)-N delta-hemiphthaloyl-L-ornithine); 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin (DDATHF, lomatrexol); piritrexim; 10-EDAM; ZD1694; GW1843; Pemetrexate and PDX (10-propargyl-10-deazaaminopterin).

Another example of drug resistance gene can also be a mutant or modified form of ionisine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase II (IMPDH2), a rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanosine nucleotides. The mutant or modified form of IMPDH2 is an IMPDH inhibitor resistance gene. IMPDH inhibitors can be mycophenolic acid (MPA) or its prodrug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The mutant IMPDH2 can comprises at least one, preferably two mutations in the MAP binding site of the wild type human IMPDH2 (NP_000875.2) that lead to a significantly increased resistance to IMPDH inhibitor. The mutations are preferably at positions T333 and/or S351 (Yam, Jensen et al. 2006; Sangiolo, Lesnikova et al. 2007; Jonnalagadda, Brown et al. 2013). In a particular embodiment, the threonine residue at position 333 is replaced with an isoleucine residue and the serine residue at position 351 is replaced with a tyrosine residue. Correspondence of amino acid positions described herein is frequently expressed in terms of the positions of the amino acids of the form of wild-type human IMPDH2 polypeptide set forth in NP_000875.2.

Another drug resistance gene is the mutant form of calcineurin. Calcineurin (PP2B), an ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine protein phosphatase that is involved in many biological processes and which is central to T-cell activation. Calcineurin is a heterodimer composed of a catalytic subunit (CnA; three isoforms) and a regulatory subunit (CnB; two isoforms). After engagement of the T-cell receptor, calcineurin dephosphorylates the transcription factor NFAT, allowing it to translocate to the nucleus and active key target gene such as IL2. FK506 in complex with FKBP12, or cyclosporine A (CsA) in complex with CyPA block NFAT access to calcineurin's active site, preventing its dephosphorylation and thereby inhibiting T-cell activation (Brewin, Mancao et al. 2009). The drug resistance gene of the present invention can be a nucleic acid sequence encoding a mutant form of calcineurin resistant to calcineurin inhibitor such as FK506 and/or CsA. In a particular embodiment, said mutant form can comprise at least one mutated amino acid of the wild type calcineurin heterodimer a at positions: V314, Y341, M347, T351, W352, L354, K360, preferably double mutations at positions T351 and L354 or V314 and Y341. In a particular embodiment, the valine residue at position 341 can be replaced with a lysine or an arginine residue, the tyrosine residue at position 341 can be replaced with a phenylalanine residue; the methionine at position 347 can be replaced with the glutamic acid, arginine or tryptophane residue; the threonine at position 351 can be replaced with the glutamic acid residue; the tryptophane residue at position 352 can be replaced with a cysteine, glutamic acid or alanine residue, the serine at position 353 can be replaced with the histidine or asparagines residue, the leucine at position 354 can be replaced with an alanine residue; the lysine at position 360 can be replaced with an alanine or phenylalanine residue of a sequence corresponding to GenBank: ACX34092.1. Correspondence of amino acid positions described herein is frequently expressed in terms of the positions of the amino acids of the form of wild-type human calcineurin heterodimer a polypeptide set forth in (GenBank: ACX34092.1).

In another particular embodiment, said mutant form can comprise at least one mutated amino acid of the wild type calcineurin heterodimer bat positions: V120, N123, L124 or K125, preferably double mutations at positions L124 and K125. In a particular embodiment, the valine at position 120 can be replaced with a serine, an aspartic acid, phenylalanine or leucine residue; the asparagine at position 123 can be replaced with a tryptophan, lysine, phenylalanine, arginine, histidine or serine; the leucine at position 124 can be replaced with a threonine residue; the lysine at position 125 can be replaced with an alanine, a glutamic acid, tryptophan, or two residues such as leucine-arginine or isoleucine-glutamic acid can be added after the lysine at position 125 in the amino acid sequence corresponding to GenBank: ACX34095.1. Correspondence of amino acid positions described herein is frequently expressed in terms of the positions of the amino acids of the form of wild-type human calcineurin heterodimer b polypeptide set forth in (GenBank: ACX34095.1).

Another example of drug resistance gene is 0(6)-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) encoding human alkyl guanine transferase (hAGT). ACT is a DNA repair protein that confers resistance to the cytotoxic effects of alkylating agents, such as nitrosoureas and temozolomide (TMZ). 6-benzylguanine (6-BG) is an inhibitor of ACT that potentiates nitrosourea toxicity and is co-administered with TMZ to potentiate the cytotoxic effects of this agent. Several mutant forms of MGMT that encode variants of ACT are highly resistant to inactivation by 6-BG, but retain their ability to repair DNA damage (Maze, Kurpad et al. 1999). In a particular embodiment, ACT mutant form can comprise a mutated amino acid of the wild type ACT position P140, in the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 18 (UniProtKB: P16455). In a preferred embodiment, said proline at position 140 is replaced with a lysine residue.

Another example of drug resistance gene is multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) gene. This gene encodes a membrane glycoprotein, known as P-glycoprotein (P-GP) involved in the transport of metabolic byproducts across the cell membrane. The P-Gp protein displays broad specificity towards several structurally unrelated chemotherapy agents.

Overexpressing multidrug resistance protein 1 has been described to confer resistance to drugs such as Mitoxantrone (Charles S. Morrow, Christina Peklak-Scott, Bimjhana Bishwokarma, Timothy E. Kute, Pamela K. Smitherman, and Alan J. Townsend. Multidrug Resistance Protein 1 (MRP1, ABCC1) Mediates Resistance to Mitoxantrone via Glutathione-Dependent Drug Efflux Mol Pharmacol April 2006 69:1499-1505).

Thus, drug resistance can be conferred to anti-BCMA CAR T cells of the invention by enhancing the expression of nucleic acid sequence that encodes MDR-1 (NP_000918).

Still another way of preparing drug resistant cells is to prepare cells with specific mutation (s) such as mutations at Arg486 and Glu571 in the Human Topoisomerase II gene, to confer resistance to amsacrine (S. PATEL, B. A. KELLER, and L. M. FISHER. 2000. MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY. Vol 57: p 784-791 (2000).

Still another way of preparing drug resistant cells is to prepare cells overexpressing microRNA-21 to confer resistance to daunorubicine (Involvement of miR-21 in resistance to daunorubicin by regulating PTEN expression in the leukaemia K562 cell line Bai, Haitao et al. FEBS Letters, Volume 585, Issue 2, 402-408).

Drug resistance gene can also confer resistance to cytotoxic antibiotics, and can be ble gene or mcrA gene. Ectopic expression of ble gene or mcrA in an immune cell gives a selective advantage when exposed to the chemotherapeutic agent, respectively the bleomycine or the mitomycin C.

A very practical approach to gene therapy is the addition of a gene to engineer T-cell by using efficient gene delivery with vectors, preferably viral vector. Thus, in a particular embodiment, said drug resistance gene can be expressed in the cell by introducing a transgene preferably encoded by at least one vector into a cell.

In one embodiment, cells bearing a drug resistance gene or a modified gene conferring resistance to a drug also comprise an inducible suicide gene—the induction of which provokes cell death—allowing their selective destruction.

The random insertion of genes into the genome may lead to the inappropriate expression of the inserted gene or the gene near the insertion site. Specific gene therapy using homologous recombination of exogenous nucleic acid comprising endogenous sequences to target genes to specific sites within the genome can allow engineering secure T-cells. As described above, the genetic modification step of the method can comprise a step of introduction into cells of an exogeneous nucleic acid comprising at least a sequence encoding the drug resistance gene and a portion of an endogenous gene such that homologous recombination occurs between the endogenous gene and the exogeneous nucleic acid. In a particular embodiment, said endogenous gene can be the wild type “drug resistance” gene, such that after homologous recombination, the wild type gene is replaced by the mutant form of the gene which confers resistance to the drug.

Endonucleolytic breaks are known to stimulate the rate of homologous recombination. Thus, in a particular embodiment, the method of the invention further comprises the step of expressing in the cell a rare-cutting endonuclease which is able to cleave a target sequence within an endogenous gene. Said endogenous gene can encode for examples DHFR, IMPDH2, calcineurin or ACT. Said rare-cutting endonuclease can be a TALE-nuclease, a Zinc finger nuclease, a CRISPR/Cas9 endonuclease, a MBBBD-nuclease or a meganuclease.

Inactivation of Drug Sensitizing Genes in Anti-BCMA CAR-Expressing Immune Cells

In another particular embodiment, said drug resistance can be conferred to the cell of the invention, anti-BCMA CAR expressing immune cell, by the inactivation of a drug sensitizing gene.

The inventor sought to inactivate potential drug sensitizing gene to engineer T-cell for immunotherapy, in particular to engineer anti-BCMA CAR expressing immune cell that can be used in combination with a therapeutic agent (anti-cancer drug).

By inactivating a gene it is intended that the gene of interest is not expressed in a functional protein form. In particular embodiment, the genetic modification of the method relies on the expression, in provided cells to engineer, of one rare-cutting endonuclease such that said rare-cutting endonuclease specifically catalyzes cleavage in one targeted gene thereby inactivating said targeted gene. In a particular embodiment, the step of inactivating at least one drug sensitizing gene comprises introducing into the cell a rare-cutting endonuclease able to disrupt at least one drug sensitizing gene. In a more particular embodiment, said cells are transformed with nucleic acid encoding a rare-cutting endonuclease capable of disrupting a drug sensitizing gene, and said rare-cutting endonuclease is expressed into said cells. Said rare-cutting endonuclease can be a meganuclease, a Zinc finger nuclease, CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease, A MBBBD-nuclease or a TALE-nuclease. In a preferred embodiment, said rare-cutting endonuclease is a TALE-nuclease.

In a preferred embodiment, drug sensitizing gene which can be inactivated to confer drug resistance to the T-cell is the human deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) gene. This enzyme is required for the phosphorylation of the deoxyribonucleosides deoxycytidine (dC), deoxyguanosine (dG) and deoxyadenosine (dA). Purine nucleotide analogs (PNAs) are metabolized by dCK into mono-, di- and tri-phosphate PNA. Their triphosphate forms and particularly clofarabine triphosphate compete with ATP for DNA synthesis, acts as proapoptotic agent and are potent inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) which is involved in trinucleotide production.

Preferably, the inactivation of dCK in T cells is mediated by TALE nuclease. To achieve this goal, several pairs of dCK TALE-nuclease have been designed, assembled at the polynucleotide level and validated by sequencing. Examples of TALE-nuclease pairs which can be used according to the invention are depicted in PCT/EP2014/075317.

This dCK inactivation in T cells confers resistance to purine nucleoside analogs (PNAs) such as clofarabine and fludarabine.

In another preferred embodiment, the dCK inactivation in T cells is combined with an inactivation of TRAC genes rendering these double knock out (KO) T cells both resistant to drug such as clofarabine and less allogeneic. This double features is particularly useful for a therapeutic goal, allowing “off-the-shelf” allogeneic cells for immunotherapy in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat patients with cancer. This double KO inactivation dCK/TRAC can be performed simultaneously or sequentially. One example of TALE-nuclease dCK/TRAC pairs which gave success in the invention is described in PCT/EP2014/075317, in particular, the target sequences in the 2 loci (dCK and TRAC).

Another example of enzyme which can be inactivated is human hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene (Genbank: M26434.1). In particular HPRT can be inactivated in engineered T-cells to confer resistance to a cytostatic metabolite, the 6-thioguanine (6TG) which is converted by HPRT to cytotoxic thioguanine nucleotide and which is currently used to treat patients with cancer, in particular leukemias (Hacke, Treger et al. 2013). Guanines analogs are metabolized by HPRT transferase that catalyzes addition of phosphoribosyl moiety and enables the formation of TGMP Guanine analogues including 6 mercapthopurine (6MP) and 6 thioguanine (6TG) are usually used as lymphodepleting drugs to treat ALL. They are metabolized by HPRT (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase that catalyzes addition of phosphoribosyl moiety and enables formation TGMP. Their subsequent phosphorylations lead to the formation of their triphosphorylated forms that are eventually integrated into DNA. Once incorporated into DNA, thio GTP impairs fidelity of DNA replication via its thiolate groupment and generate random point mutation that are highly deleterious for cell integrity.

In another embodiment, the inactivation of the CD3 normally expressed at the surface of the T-cell can confer resistance to anti-CD3 antibodies such as teplizumab.

The terms “therapeutic agent”, “chemotherapeutic agent”, or “drug” or “anti-cancer drug” as used herein refers to a medicament, preferably a compound or a derivative thereof that can interact with a cancer cell, thereby reducing the proliferative status of the cell and/or killing the cell. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents or “anti-cancer drug” include, but are not limited to, alkylating agents (e.g. Busulfan⋅Carboplatine⋅Chlorambucil⋅Cisplatine⋅Cyclophosphamide⋅Ifosfamide⋅Melphalan⋅Mechlorethamine⋅Oxaliplatine⋅Uramustine⋅Temozolomide⋅Fotemustine), metabolic antagonists (e.g., purine nucleoside antimetabolite such as clofarabine, fludarabine or 2′-deoxyadenosine, methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil or derivatives thereof, Azathioprine⋅Capecitabine⋅Cytarabine⋅Floxuridine⋅Fluorouracile⋅Gemcitabine⋅Methotrexate⋅Pemetrexed), antitumor antibiotics (e.g., mitomycin, Adriamycin, Bleomycine⋅Daunorubicine⋅Doxorubicine⋅Epirubicine⋅Hydroxyurea⋅Idarubicine⋅Mitomycin C⋅Mitoxantrone), plant-derived antitumor agents (e.g., vincristine, vindesine, Taxol, Vinblastine⋅(Vinorelbine)⋅Docetaxel⋅Paclitaxel), topoisomerase inhibitor (Irinotecan⋅Topotecan⋅Etoposide),

In a preferred embodiment, a therapeutic agent, a chemotherapy drug as used herein refers to a compound or a derivative thereof that may be used to treat cancer, in particular to treat a hematopoietic cancer cell and more particularly AML, thereby reducing the proliferative status of the cancer cell and/or killing the cancer cell. Examples of chemotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to Aracytine, Cytosine Arabinoside, Amsacrine, Daunorubicine, Idarubicine, Novantrone, Mitoxantrone, Vepeside, Etoposide (VP16), arsenic trioxyde, transretinoic acid, mechlorethamine, procarbazine, chlorambucil, and combination thereof.

In other embodiments of the present invention, cells of the invention are administered to a patient in conjunction with a drug (or an agent) selected from Aracytine, Cytosine Arabinoside, amsacrine, Daunorubicine, Idarubicine, Novantrone, Mitoxantrone, Vepeside, Etoposide (VP16), arsenic trioxyde, transretinoic acid, cytarabine, anthracyclines, 6-thioguanine, hydroxyurea, prednisone, and combination thereof.

Such agents may further include, but are not limited to, the anti-cancer agents TRIMETHOTRIXATE (TMTX), TEMOZOLOMIDE, RALTRITREXED, S-(4-Nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (NBMPR), 6-benzyguanidine (6-BG), bis-chloronitrosourea (BCNU) and CAMPTOTHECIN, or a therapeutic derivative of any thereof.

In a more preferred embodiment an anti-BCMA CAR of SEQ ID No. 50 or of SEQ ID No. 56 expressing T cell, is administered to a patient, in combination with at least one therapeutic agent selected from Aracytine, Cytosine Arabinoside, Amsacrine, Daunorubicine, Idarubicine, Novantrone, Mitoxantrone, Vepeside, Etoposide (VP16), arsenic trioxyde, transretinoic acid and combination thereof.

As used herein, a cell which is “resistant or tolerant” to an agent means a cell which has been genetically modified so that the cell proliferates in the presence of an amount of an agent that inhibits or prevents proliferation of a cell without the modification.

Preparing Multiple Drug Resistant Anti-BCMA CAR-Expressing Immune Cells

In another particular embodiment, the inventors sought to develop an “off-the shelf” immunotherapy strategy, using allogeneic T-cells, in particular allogenic anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell resistant to multiple drugs to mediate selection of engineered T-cells when the patient is treated with different drugs. The therapeutic efficiency can be significantly enhanced by genetically engineering multiple drug resistance allogeneic T-cells. Such a strategy can be particularly effective in treating tumors that respond to drug combinations that exhibit synergistic effects. Moreover multiple resistant engineered T-cells can expand and be selected using minimal dose of drug agents.

Thus, the method according to the present invention can comprise modifying T-cell to confer multiple drug resistance to said T-cell. Said multiple drug resistance can be conferred by either expressing more than one drug resistance gene or by inactivating more than one drug sensitizing gene. In another particular embodiment, the multiple drug resistance can be conferred to said T-cell by expressing at least one drug resistance gene and inactivating at least one drug sensitizing gene. In particular, the multiple drug resistance can be conferred to said T-cell by expressing at least one drug resistance gene such as mutant form of DHFR, mutant form of IMPDH2, mutant form of calcineurin, mutant form of MGMT, the ble gene, and the mcrA gene and inactivating at least one drug sensitizing gene such as HPRT gene. In a preferred embodiment, multiple drug resistance can be conferred by inactivating HPRT gene and expressing a mutant form of DHFR; or by inactivating HPRT gene and expressing a mutant form of IMPDH2; or by inactivating HPRT gene and expressing a mutant form of calcineurin; by inactivating HPRT gene and expressing a mutant form of MGMT; by inactivating HPRT gene and expressing the ble gene; by inactivating HPRT gene and expressing the mcrA gene.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell wherein TCR expression is affected and which is expressing more than one drug resistance gene and/or wherein more than one drug sensitizing gene is inactivated.

Suicide Genes in Anti-BCMA CAR-Expressing Immune Cells

-   -   In one embodiment, a suicide polypeptide may be expressed at the         surface of a CAR-T cell of the invention (TCR KO and resistant         to at least on anticancer chemotherapy); binding of rituximab to         the R epitopes of the polypeptide causes lysis of the cell.         Thus, the suicide polypeptide may comprise a signal peptide at         the amino terminus. More than one molecule of rituximab may bind         per polypeptide expressed at the cell surface. Each R epitope of         the polypeptide may bind a separate molecule of rituximab.         Deletion of BCMA specific CAR-T cells may occur in vivo, for         example by administering rituximab to a patient. The decision to         delete the transferred cells may arise from undesirable effects         being detected in the patient which are attributable to the         transferred cells, such as for example, when unacceptable levels         of toxicity are detected.

In some instances, since engineered T-cells can expand and persist for years after administration, it can be desirable to include a safety mechanism to allow selective deletion of administrated T-cells. Thus, in some embodiments, the method of the invention can comprises the transformation of said T-cells with a recombinant suicide gene. Said recombinant suicide gene is used to reduce the risk of direct toxicity and/or uncontrolled proliferation of said T-cells once administrated in a subject (Quintarelli C, Vera F, blood 2007; Tey S K, Dotti G., Rooney C M, boil blood marrow transplant 2007). Suicide genes enable selective deletion of transformed cells in vivo. In particular, the suicide gene has the ability to convert a non-toxic pro-drug into cytotoxic drug or to express the toxic gene expression product. In other words, “Suicide gene” is a nucleic acid coding for a product, wherein the product causes cell death by itself or in the presence of other compounds.

A representative example of such a suicide gene is one which codes for thymidine kinase of herpes simplex virus. Additional examples are thymidine kinase of varicella zoster virus and the bacterial gene cytosine deaminase which can convert 5-fluorocytosine to the highly toxic compound 5-fluorouracil. Suicide genes also include as non limiting examples caspase-9 or caspase-8 or cytosine deaminase. Caspase-9 can be activated using a specific chemical inducer of dimerization (CID). Suicide genes can also be polypeptides that are expressed at the surface of the cell and can make the cells sensitive to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. As used herein “prodrug” means any compound useful in the methods of the present invention that can be converted to a toxic product. The prodrug is converted to a toxic product by the gene product of the suicide gene in the method of the present invention. A representative example of such a prodrug is ganciclovir which is converted in vivo to a toxic compound by HSV-thymidine kinase. The ganciclovir derivative subsequently is toxic to tumor cells. Other representative examples of prodrugs include acyclovir, FIAU [1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyI)-5-iodouracil], 6-methoxypurine arabinoside for VZV-TK, and 5-fluorocytosine for cytosine deaminase.

One preferred suicide gene system employs a recombinant antigenic polypeptide comprising antigenic motif recognized by the anti-CD20 mAb Rituximab, especially QBen10, such as in the so-called RQR8 polypeptide described in WO2013153391. Rituximab, an authorized antibody drug, can then be used for cell depletion when needed.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides allogenic anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell expressing more than one drug resistance gene or wherein more than one drug sensitizing gene is inactivated, and a suicide gene, preferably RQR8 allowing said cells to be destroyed.

-   -   The suicide gene expression may be inducible for example by         doxycyclin-such as in Cenlivre M et al., 2014; Gene         Therapy (2010) 17: 14-25 adapted to human cells.     -   The present invention provides an anti-BCMA CAR-T cells         comprising the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having at         least 80% identity with a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO 50 or         SEQ ID NO 56, the suicide polypeptide is expressed at the         surface of a CAR-T cell. In some embodiments, the suicide         polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence shown in (SEQ ID         NO. 60).     -   In one preferred embodiment a suicide gene is introduced into         BCMA CAR T cells, in particular a RQR8 gene See, e.g.,         WO2013153391A, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its         entirety.         Clofarabine Resistant Anti-BCMA CAR-Expressing Immune Cells         The invention encompasses the manufacture of T cells for         therapeutic use with a deficient TCR, which are resistant to a         drug such as to Clofarabine. They can be obtained by         inactivation of the dCK gene such as previously explained.         According to a preferred embodiment, the T-cells are made         resistant to chemotherapy and less allogeneic by combining         inactivation of dCK and TCR genes as described above.         Thus, the present invention provides an anti-BCMA CAR expressing         cell, in particular an anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cell wherein         the CAR is derived from BC30 or BC50 (comprising a SEQ ID N050         or SEQ ID NO. 56, optionally humanized) and wherein the dCK gene         is inactivated.         BCMA+/luc+ drug resistant H929 cells for testing the         cytotoxicity of drug resistant allogenic CAR T cells         The present invention encompasses also a method for         manufacturing target cells which express both a surface receptor         specific to the CAR T cells and a resistance gene. These target         cells are particularly useful for testing the cytotoxicity of         CAR T cells. These cells are readily resistant to clinically         relevant dose of clofarabine and harbor luciferase activity.         This combination of features enable traking them in vivo in a         mice model or destroy them when required.         More particularly, they can be used to assess the cytotoxicity         properties drug resistant T cells in mice in the presence of         clofarabine or other PNAs. Clofarabine resistant H929 cells         mimick the physiological state of acute lymphoblastic leukemia         (ALL) patients relapsing form induction therapy, that harbor         drug resistant B cell malignancies. Thus, these cells are of         great interest to evaluate the reliability and cytotoxicity of         drug resistant CAR T cells. Preferably, these target cells are         BCMA+ Luciferase+ H929 cells.         Isolated Cell         The present invention relates to an isolated cell expressing a         CAR of the invention which binds to BCMA. Thus, the invention         relates to an isolated anti-BCMA CAR expressing cell. In a         particular embodiment, said anti-BCMA CAR expressing cell is         resistant to at least one drug and is endowed with a suicide         gene and/or comprises at least one disrupted gene encoding a         T-cell receptor component.

In a preferred embodiment, said anti-BCMA CAR T-cell expresses at least one drug resistance gene, preferably ble gene or mcrA gene or gene encoding a mutant DHFR, a mutant IMPDH2, a mutant ACT or a mutant calcineurin.

In another particular embodiment, said anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cell comprises at least one disrupted drug sensitizing gene such as dCK or HPRT gene. In a more particular embodiment, said isolated anti-BCMA CAR T-cell comprises a disrupted HPRT gene and express a DHFR mutant; said isolated anti-BCMA CAR T-cell comprises a disrupted HPRT gene and express a IMPDH2 mutant; said isolated anti-BCMA CAR T-cell comprises a disrupted HPRT gene and express a calcineurin mutant; said isolated anti-BCMA CAR T-cell comprises a disrupted HPRT gene and express a ACT mutant.

Anti-BCMA CAR T-Cell Resistant to a Drug for its Use in Immunotherapy

In particular, the present invention relates to an allogeneic TCR KO T-cell, in particular an TCR KO allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell, and preferably a TCR KO allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell comprising a peptide having 80% to 100% identity with scfv from BC 30 or BC 50, said allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell comprising a peptide having 80% to 100% identity with scfv from BC30 or BC50 is more particularly resistant to a drug, and specifically suitable for immunotherapy. In a preferred embodiment, said TCR KO allogeneic anti-BCMA CAR expressing T-cell comprises a peptide having 80% to 100% identity with SEQ ID NO.50 or 56 and is more particularly resistant to a drug, and specifically suitable for immunotherapy.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising said anti-BCMA CAR expressing cells, said composition comprising said anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cell of the invention, preferably said anti-BCMA CAR is of SEQ ID NO. 50 or of SEQ ID NO. 56, preferably humanized and at least one drug cited as anti-cancer or anti inflammatory disease chemotherapy.

The resistance of a drug can be conferred by inactivation of drug sensitizing genes or by expression of drug resistance genes. Some examples of drugs which suit to the invention are chemotherapy such as Melphalan, Vincristine (Oncovin®), Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®), Etoposide (VP-16), Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), Liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®), Bendamustine (Treanda®), Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone and prednisone.

Immunomodulating agents such as

Thalidomide (Thalomid®) Lenalidomide (Revlimid®) Pomalidomide (Pomalyst®)

Proteasome inhibitors such as

Bortezomib (Velcade®), Carfilzomib (Kyprolis®)

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors such as Panobinostat (Farydak®)

Examples of combination drugs used with the anti-BCMA CAR T cells of the invention may be the following:

-   -   Melphalan and prednisone (MP), with or without thalidomide or         bortezomib,     -   Vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone,     -   Thalidomide (or lenalidomide) and dexamethasone,     -   Bortezomib, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone,     -   Bortezomib, dexamethasone, and thalidomide (or lenalidomide),     -   Liposomel doxorubicin, vincristine, dexamethasone,     -   Carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone,     -   Dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin         (called DCEP),     -   Dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, doxorubicin,         cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (called DT-PACE), with or         without bortezomib,     -   Panobinostat, bortezomib, and dexamethasone.

In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for engineering immune cells to make them resistant to purine nucleotide analogs (PNA), such a clorofarabine or fludarabine, so that they can be used in cancer immunotherapy treatments in patients pre-treated with these conventional chemotherapies or combinations of chemotherapies.

The resistance to drugs can be conferred to the T-cells by inactivating one or more gene(s) responsible for the cell's sensitivity to the drug (drug sensitizing gene(s), such as the dcK and/or HPRT genes.

According to another aspect, the resistance to drugs can be conferred to an anti-BCMA T-cell by expressing a drug resistance gene. Variant alleles of several genes such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2), calcineurin or methylguanine transferase (MGMT) have been identified to confer drug resistance to a cell according to the invention.

For instance, CD52 and glucocorticoid receptors (GR), which are drug targets of Campath (alemtuzumab) or rituximab and glucocorticoids treatments, can be inactivated to make the cells resistant to these treatments and give them a competitive advantage over patient's own T-cells not endowed with specific BCMA CARs. Expression of CD3 gene can also be suppressed or reduced to confer resistance to Teplizumab, which is another immune suppressive drug. Expression of HPRT can also be suppressed or reduced according to the invention to confer resistance to 6-thioguanine, a cytostatic agent commonly used in chemotherapy especially for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

According to further aspect of the invention, the immune cells can be further manipulated to make them more active or limit exhaustion, by inactivating genes encoding proteins that act as “immune checkpoints” that act as regulators of T-cells activation, such as the following gene selected from CTLA4, PPP2CA, PPP2CB, PTPN6, PTPN22, PDCD1, LAG3, HAVCR2, BTLA, CD160, TIGIT, CD96, CRTAM, LAIR1, SIGLEC7, SIGLEC9, CD244, TNFRSF10B, TNFRSF10A, CASP8, CASP10, CASP3, CASP6, CASP7, FADD, FAS, TGFBRII, TGFBRI, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4, SMAD10, SKI, SKIL, TGIF1, IL10RA, IL10RB, HMOX2, IL6R, IL65T, CSK, PAG1, SIT1, FOXP3, PRDM1 (orblimp1), BATF, GUCY1A2, GUCY1A3, GUCY1B2, GUCY1B3, preferably, said gene is PDCD1 or CTLA-4. Examples of genes, which expression could be reduced or suppressed are indicated in Table 9.

In one embodiment said gene is a gene that acts as a regulator of T-cells activation coding the beta 2 microglobulin protein.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the anti-BCMA CAR-immune cells of the invention can be further manipulated to make them resistant to a drug, in particular to a drug used during chemotherapy against cancer, in particular a BCMA-expressing cell-mediated cancer such as AML. This can be achieved by introducing a gene conferring resistance to said drug. This same gene may be turned on and off by using a gene inducible inhibition/expression system as previously described (Garcia E L, Mills A A (2002) Getting around lethality with inducible Cre-mediated excision. Semin Cell Dev Biol 13:151-8, Lewandoski M (2001) Conditional control of gene expression in the mouse. Nat Rev Genet 2:743-55; Scharfenberger L, Hennerici T, Kirly G et al. (2014) Transgenic mouse technology in skin biology: Generation of complete or tissue-specific knockout mice. J. Invest Dermatol 134:e16; Schwenk F, Kuhn R, Angrand P O et al. (1998) Temporally and spatially regulated somatic mutagenesis in mice. Nucleic Acids Res 26:1427-32

Thus, anti-BCMA CAR-expressing drug resistant immune cell, wherein (i) at least one gene expressing one or more component of T-cell receptor (TCR) is inactivated (ii) at least one gene conferring resistance to a drug is incorporated or a gene conferring sensitivity to said drug is deleted or mutated to be inactivated (iii) optionally another gene selected from the gene disclosed in table 9 is inactivated—is an object of the present invention.

The present invention encompasses the isolated anti-BCMA CAR-immune cells or cell lines obtainable by the method of the invention, more particularly isolated cells comprising any of the proteins, polypeptides, allelic variants, altered or deleted genes or vectors described herein.

The immune cells of the present invention or cell lines can further comprise exogenous recombinant polynucleotides, in particular CARs or suicide genes or they can comprise altered or deleted genes coding for checkpoint proteins or ligands thereof that contribute to their efficiency as a therapeutic product, ideally as an “off the shelf” product. In another aspect, the present invention concerns the method for treating or preventing cancer in the patient by administrating at least once an engineered immune cell obtainable by the above methods.

Delivery Methods

The different methods described above involve introducing CAR into a cell. As non-limiting example, said CAR can be introduced as transgenes encoded by one plasmid vector. Said plasmid vector can also contain a selection marker which provides for identification and/or selection of cells which received said vector.

Polypeptides may be synthesized in situ in the cell as a result of the introduction of polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides into the cell. Alternatively, said polypeptides could be produced outside the cell and then introduced thereto. Methods for introducing a polynucleotide construct into cells are known in the art and including as non-limiting examples stable transformation methods wherein the polynucleotide construct is integrated into the genome of the cell, transient transformation methods wherein the polynucleotide construct is not integrated into the genome of the cell and virus mediated methods. Said polynucleotides may be introduced into a cell by for example, recombinant viral vectors (e.g. retroviruses, adenoviruses), liposome and the like. For example, transient transformation methods include for example microinjection, electroporation or particle bombardment. Said polynucleotides may be included in vectors, more particularly plasmids or virus, in view of being expressed in cells.

Engineered Immune Cells

The present invention encompasses the method of preparing immune cells for immunotherapy comprising introducing ex-vivo into said immune cells the polynucleotides or vectors encoding the BCMA CAR of the invention. A method of preparing immune cells for immunotherapy is described in WO2014/130635, WO2013176916, WO2013176915 and incorporated herein by reference.

Similarly, possible individual steps for preparing engineered immune cells are disclosed in patents Nos. WO/2014/039523, WO/2014/184741, WO/2014/191128, WO/2014/184744, and WO/2014/184143, and incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also relates to isolated cells or cell lines susceptible to be obtained by said method to engineer cells. In particular said isolated cell comprises at least one CAR as described above. In another embodiment, said isolated cell comprises a population of CARs each one comprising different extracellular ligand binding domains. In particular, said isolated cell comprises exogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding CAR. Genetically modified immune cells of the present invention are activated and proliferate independently of antigen binding mechanisms.

In the scope of the present invention is also encompassed an isolated immune cell, preferably a T-cell obtained according to any one of the methods previously described. Said immune cell refers to a cell of hematopoietic origin functionally involved in the initiation and/or execution of innate and/or adaptive immune response. Said immune cell according to the present invention can be derived from a stem cell. The stem cells can be adult stem cells, non-human embryonic stem cells, more particularly non-human stem cells, cord blood stem cells, progenitor cells, bone marrow stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, totipotent stem cells or hematopoietic stem cells. Representative human cells are CD34+ cells. Said isolated cell can also be a dendritic cell, killer dendritic cell, a mast cell, a NK-cell, a B-cell or a T-cell selected from the group consisting of inflammatory T-lymphocytes, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, regulatory T-lymphocytes or helper T-lymphocytes. In another embodiment, said cell can be derived from the group consisting of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Prior to expansion and genetic modification of the cells of the invention, a source of cells can be obtained from a subject through a variety of non-limiting methods. Cells can be obtained from a number of non-limiting sources, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells, bone marrow, lymph node tissue, cord blood, thymus tissue, tissue from a site of infection, ascites, pleural effusion, spleen tissue, and tumors. In certain embodiments of the present invention, any number of T cell lines available and known to those skilled in the art, may be used. In another embodiment, said cell can be derived from a healthy donor, from a patient diagnosed with cancer or from a patient diagnosed with an infection. In another embodiment, said cell is part of a mixed population of cells which present different phenotypic characteristics. In the scope of the present invention is also encompassed a cell line obtained from a transformed T-cell according to the method previously described. Modified cells resistant to an immunosuppressive treatment and susceptible to be obtained by the previous method are encompassed in the scope of the present invention.

As a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above, that do not express functional TCR and that a reactive towards BCMA positive cells, for their allogeneic transplantation into patients.

As a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above, that are further resistant to at least one drug used for the treatment of BCMA-expressing cancer cell and/or a suicide gene such as RQR8, for their allogeneic transplantation into patients.

In one embodiment the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 50.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 52.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 54.

In one preferred embodiment, In one embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells as described above endowed with a BCMA CAR comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58.

In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides T-cells or a population of T-cells endowed with a BCMA CAR as described above comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 50 or comprising a polypeptide sequence having at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93% 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identity with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 56.

Activation and Expansion of T Cells

Whether prior to or after genetic modification of the T cells, even if the genetically modified immune cells of the present invention are activated and proliferate independently of antigen binding mechanisms, the immune cells, particularly T-cells of the present invention can be further activated and expanded generally using methods as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,352,694; 6,534,055; 6,905,680; 6,692,964; 5,858,358; 6,887,466; 6,905,681; 7,144,575; 7,067,318; 7,172,869; 7,232,566; 7,175,843; 5,883,223; 6,905,874; 6,797,514; 6,867,041; and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20060121005. T cells can be expanded in vitro or in vivo.

Generally, the T cells of the invention are expanded by contact with an agent that stimulates a CD3 TCR complex and a co-stimulatory molecule on the surface of the T cells to create an activation signal for the T-cell. For example, chemicals such as calcium ionophore A23187, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or mitogenic lectins like phytohemagglutinin (PHA) can be used to create an activation signal for the T-cell.

As non-limiting examples, T cell populations may be stimulated in vitro such as by contact with an anti-CD3 antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, or an anti-CD2 antibody immobilized on a surface, or by contact with a protein kinase C activator (e.g., bryostatin) in conjunction with a calcium ionophore. For co-stimulation of an accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, a ligand that binds the accessory molecule is used. For example, a population of T cells can be contacted with an anti-CD3 antibody and an anti-CD28 antibody, under conditions appropriate for stimulating proliferation of the T cells. Conditions appropriate for T cell culture include an appropriate media (e.g., Minimal Essential Media or RPMI Media 1640 or, X-vivo 5, (Lonza)) that may contain factors necessary for proliferation and viability, including serum (e.g., fetal bovine or human serum), interleukin-2 (IL-2), insulin, IFN-g, IL-4, IL-7, GM-CSF, -10, -2, IL-15, TGFp, and TNF- or any other additives for the growth of cells known to the skilled artisan. Other additives for the growth of cells include, but are not limited to, surfactant, plasmanate, and reducing agents such as N-acetyl-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanoi. Media can include RPMI 1640, A1M-V, DMEM, MEM, a-MEM, F-12, X-Vivo 1, and X-Vivo 20, Optimizer, with added amino acids, sodium pyruvate, and vitamins, either serum-free or supplemented with an appropriate amount of serum (or plasma) or a defined set of hormones, and/or an amount of cytokine(s) sufficient for the growth and expansion of T cells. Antibiotics, e.g., penicillin and streptomycin, are included only in experimental cultures, not in cultures of cells that are to be infused into a subject. The target cells are maintained under conditions necessary to support growth, for example, an appropriate temperature (e.g., 37° C.) and atmosphere (e.g., air plus 5% CO2). T cells that have been exposed to varied stimulation times may exhibit different characteristics.

In another particular embodiment, said cells can be expanded by co-culturing with tissue or cells. Said cells can also be expanded in vivo, for example in the subject's blood after administrating said cell into the subject.

Therapeutic Applications

In another embodiment, isolated cell obtained by the different methods or cell line derived from said isolated cell as previously described can be used as a medicament. In another embodiment, said medicament can be used for treating cancer, particularly for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and leukemia in a patient in need thereof. In another embodiment, said isolated cell according to the invention or cell line derived from said isolated cell can be used in the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of a cancer in a patient in need thereof.

In another aspect, the present invention relies on methods for treating patients in need thereof, said method comprising at least one of the following steps:

-   -   (a) providing an immune-cell obtainable by any one of the         methods previously described;     -   (b) Administrating said transformed immune cells to said         patient,

On one embodiment, said T cells of the invention can undergo robust in vivo T cell expansion and can persist for an extended amount of time.

Said treatment can be ameliorating, curative or prophylactic. It may be either part of an autologous immunotherapy or part of an allogenic immunotherapy treatment. By autologous, it is meant that cells, cell line or population of cells used for treating patients are originating from said patient or from a Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) compatible donor. By allogeneic is meant that the cells or population of cells used for treating patients are not originating from said patient but from a donor.

Cells that can be used with the disclosed methods are described in the previous section.

Thus, in one aspect the present invention provides an engineered immune cell according to the invention comprising a specific BCMA CAR according to the invention for use as a medicament.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an engineered immune cell comprising a specific BCMA CAR according to the invention for use as a medicament for the prevention or the treatment of a pathological condition.

In the present invention, said pathological condition is directly or indirectly induced by BCMA or a BCMA expressing cell.

In one embodiment said pathological condition is an inflammatory disease or an auto immune disease.

In another embodiment said pathological condition is a pre-malignant or malignant cancer condition.

A treatment according to the invention can be used to treat patients diagnosed wherein a pre-malignant or malignant cancer condition (a cancer) characterized by BCMA-expressing cells, especially by an overabundance of BCMA-expressing cells.

In some embodiments, the cancer is multiple myeloma malignant plasma cell neoplasm, Hodgkin's lymphoma, nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kahler's disease and Myelomatosis, plasma cell leukemia, plasmacytoma, B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), follicular lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, large cell lymphoma, precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, myeloid leukemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulienemia, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue lymphoma, small cell lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma, lymphoplasmactyic lymphoma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, nodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma, splenic marginal zone lymphoma, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, T cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma, primary central nervous system lymphoma, primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (leg type), EBV positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma associated with inflammation, intravascular large B-cell lymphoma, ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma, plasmablastic lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma arising in HHV8-associated multicentric Castleman disease, B-cell lymphoma unclassified with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma unclassified with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classical Hodgkin lymphoma, or another B-cell related lymphomas.

Preferably a pathological condition treated using the anti-BCMA CAR T cell of the invention is systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, B-cell malignancies, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) and Multiple myeloma (MM).

More preferably a pathological condition treated using the anti-BCMA CAR T cell of the invention is relapsing or refractory B-cell malignancies, relapsing or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), relapsing or refractory non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) and relapsing or refractory Multiple myeloma (MM)

In some embodiments, an isolated cell according to the invention, or cell line derived from the isolated cells, can be used in the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of a condition as above in a patient in need thereof, in particular a pathological condition.

Also provided herein are methods for treating patients. In some embodiments the method comprises providing an immune cell of the invention to a patient in need thereof. In some embodiments, the method comprises a step of administrating BCMA CAR expressing immune cells of the invention to a patient in need thereof.

Such conditions are found in hematologic cancers, such as leukemia or malignant lymphoproliferative disorders.

Leukemia can be acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, melodysplastic syndrome, acute lymphoid leukemia, chronic lymphoid leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Lymphoproliferative disorder can be lymphoma, in particular multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma (small cell and large cell).

Cancers that may be treated may comprise nonsolid tumors (such as hematological tumors, including but not limited to pre-B ALL (pediatric indication), adult ALL, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the like. Types of cancers to be treated with the CARs of the invention include, but are not limited leukemia or lymphoid malignancies. Adult tumors/cancers and pediatric tumors/cancers are also included.

Adult tumors/cancers and pediatric tumors/cancers may be solid cancers such as urothelial bladder cancer and squamous cell carcinoma, relapsing or refractory forms of these cancers.

In a preferred embodiment, an isolated cell according to the invention, or cell line derived from the isolated cells, can be used for preventing or altering cancer metastasis. The treatment with the engineered immune cells according to the invention may be in combination with one or more therapies against cancer selected from the group of antibodies therapy, chemotherapy, cytokines therapy, dendritic cell therapy, gene therapy, hormone therapy, laser light therapy and radiation therapy.

The treatment with the engineered immune cells according to the invention may be a combination with anti-BCMA CAR one or more of the following agent, an alkylating agent, a corticosteroid, a platinum drug, a purine analog, an anti-metabolite and another chemotherapy drug.

Alkylating agents include Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®) Chlorambucil, Bendamustine (Treanda®), Ifosfamide (Ifex®)

Corticosteroids include Prednisone, Dexamethasone (Decadron®), Platinum drugs include, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin

Purine analogs include Fludarabine (Fludara®), Pentostatin (Nipent®), Cladribine (2-CdA, Leustatin®).

Anti-metabolites include Cytarabine (ara-C), Gemcitabine (Gemzar®), Methotrexat, Pralatrexate (Folotyn®).

Chemotherapy drugs include, Vincristine (Oncovin®), Doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), Mitoxantrone, Etoposide (VP-16), Bleomycin.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, anti-BCMA CAR expressing cells are administered to a patient in conjunction (e.g., before, simultaneously or following) with a drug selected from Aracytine, Cytosine Arabinoside, amsacrine, Daunorubicine, Idarubicine, Novantrone, Mitoxantrone, Vepeside, Etoposide (VP16), arsenic trioxyde, transretinoic acid, mechlorethamine, procarbazine, chlorambucil, and combination thereof. In these embodiments anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cells may be resistant to the particular drug or combination of drugs that is (are) administered in conjunction with anti-BCMA CAR expressing cells. In other embodiments of the present invention, anti-BCMA CAR expressing cells are administered to a patient in conjunction with a drug selected from cytarabine, anthracyclines, 6-thioguanine, hydroxyurea, prednisone, and combination thereof and anti-BCMA CAR expressing cells are resistant to at least one drug selected from cytarabine, anthracyclines, 6-thioguanine, hydroxyurea, prednisone.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said treatment can be administrated into patients undergoing an immunosuppressive treatment. Indeed, the present invention preferably relies on cells or population of cells, which have been made resistant to at least one immunosuppressive agent due to the inactivation of a gene encoding a receptor for such immunosuppressive agent. In this aspect, the immunosuppressive treatment should help the selection and expansion of the T-cells according to the invention within the patient.

The administration of the cells or population of cells according to the present invention may be carried out in any convenient manner, including by aerosol inhalation, injection, ingestion, transfusion, implantation or transplantation. The compositions described herein may be administered to a patient subcutaneously, intradermally, intratumorally, intranodally, intramedullary, intramuscularly, by intravenous or intralymphatic injection, or intraperitoneally. In one embodiment, the cell compositions of the present invention are preferably administered by intravenous injection.

The administration of the cells or population of cells can consist of the administration of 10⁴-10⁹ cells per kg body weight, preferably 10⁵ to 10⁶ cells/kg body weight including all integer values of cell numbers within those ranges. The cells or population of cells can be administrated in one or more doses. In another embodiment, said effective amount of cells are administrated as a single dose. In another embodiment, said effective amount of cells are administrated as more than one dose over a period time. Timing of administration is within the judgment of managing physician and depends on the clinical condition of the patient. The cells or population of cells may be obtained from any source, such as a blood bank or a donor. While individual needs vary, determination of optimal ranges of effective amounts of a given cell type for a particular disease or conditions within the skill of the art. An effective amount means an amount which provides a therapeutic or prophylactic benefit. The dosage administrated will be dependent upon the age, health and weight of the recipient, kind of concurrent treatment, if any, frequency of treatment and the nature of the effect desired.

In another embodiment, said effective amount of cells or composition comprising those cells are administrated parenterally. Said administration can be an intravenous administration. Said administration can be directly done by injection within a tumor.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, cells are administered to a patient in conjunction with (e.g., before, simultaneously or following) any number of relevant treatment modalities, including but not limited to treatment with agents such as antiviral therapy, cidofovir and interleukin-2, Cytarabine (also known as ARA-C) or natalizimab treatment for MS patients or efaliztimab treatment for psoriasis patients or other treatments for PML patients. In further embodiments, the T cells of the invention may be used in combination with chemotherapy, radiation, immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclosporin, azathioprine, methotrexate, mycophenolate, and FK506, antibodies, or other immunoablative agents such as CAMPATH, anti-CD3 antibodies or other antibody therapies, cytoxin, fludaribine, cyclosporin, FK506, rapamycin, mycoplienolic acid, steroids, FR901228, cytokines, and irradiation. These drugs inhibit either the calcium dependent phosphatase calcineurin (cyclosporine and FK506) or inhibit the p70S6 kinase that is important for growth factor induced signaling (rapamycin) (Henderson, Naya et al. 1991; Liu, Albers et al. 1992; Bierer, Hollander et al. 1993). In a further embodiment, the cell compositions of the present invention are administered to a patient in conjunction with (e.g., before, simultaneously or following) bone marrow transplantation, T cell ablative therapy using either chemotherapy agents such as, fludarabine, external-beam radiation therapy (XRT), cyclophosphamide, or antibodies such as OKT3 or CAMPATH, In another embodiment, the cell compositions of the present invention are administered following B-cell ablative therapy such as agents that react with CD20, e.g., Rituxan. For example, in one embodiment, subjects may undergo standard treatment with high dose chemotherapy followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. In certain embodiments, following the transplant, subjects receive an infusion of the expanded immune cells of the present invention. In an additional embodiment, expanded cells are administered before or following surgery.

Other Definitions

-   -   Unless otherwise specified, “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one”         are used interchangeably and mean one or more than one.—Amino         acid residues in a polypeptide sequence are designated herein         according to the one-letter code, in which, for example, Q means         Gln or Glutamine residue, R means Arg or Arginine residue and D         means Asp or Aspartic acid residue.     -   Amino acid substitution means the replacement of one amino acid         residue with another, for instance the replacement of an         Arginine residue with a Glutamine residue in a peptide sequence         is an amino acid substitution.     -   Nucleotides are designated as follows: one-letter code is used         for designating the base of a nucleoside: a is adenine, t is         thymine, c is cytosine, and g is guanine. For the degenerated         nucleotides, r represents g or a (purine nucleotides), k         represents g or t, s represents g or c, w represents a or t, m         represents a or c, y represents t or c (pyrimidine nucleotides),         d represents g, a or t, v represents g, a or c, b represents g,         t or c, h represents a, t or c, and n represents g, a, t or c.     -   “As used herein, “nucleic acid” or “polynucleotides” refers to         nucleotides and/or polynucleotides, such as deoxyribonucleic         acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA), oligonucleotides,         fragments generated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and         fragments generated by any of ligation, scission, endonuclease         action, and exonuclease action. Nucleic acid molecules can be         composed of monomers that are naturally-occurring nucleotides         (such as DNA and RNA), or analogs of naturally-occurring         nucleotides (e.g., enantiomeric forms of naturally-occurring         nucleotides), or a combination of both. Modified nucleotides can         have alterations in sugar moieties and/or in pyrimidine or         purine base moieties. Sugar modifications include, for example,         replacement of one or more hydroxyl groups with halogens, alkyl         groups, amines, and azido groups, or sugars can be         functionalized as ethers or esters. Moreover, the entire sugar         moiety can be replaced with sterically and electronically         similar structures, such as aza-sugars and carbocyclic sugar         analogs. Examples of modifications in a base moiety include         alkylated purines and pyrimidines, acylated purines or         pyrimidines, or other well-known heterocyclic substitutes.         Nucleic acid monomers can be linked by phosphodiester bonds or         analogs of such linkages. Nucleic acids can be either single         stranded or double stranded.     -   By chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is intended molecules that         combine a binding domain against a component present on the         target cell, for example an antibody-based specificity for a         desired antigen (e.g., tumor antigen) with a T cell         receptor-activating intracellular domain to generate a chimeric         protein that exhibits a specific anti-target cellular immune         activity. Generally, CAR consists of an extracellular single         chain antibody (scFvFc) fused to the intracellular signaling         domain of the T cell antigen receptor complex zeta chain         (scFvFc:ζ) and have the ability, when expressed in T cells, to         redirect antigen recognition based on the monoclonal antibody's         specificity. One example of CAR used in the present invention is         a CAR directing against BCMA antigen and can comprise as         non-limiting example the amino acid sequences: SEQ ID NO: 19         to 42. Preferably said anti-BCMA CAR is of SEQ ID NO. 48 to SEQ         ID NO.59 and more preferably said anti-BCMA CAR is having at         least 80% identity with the amino acid sequences selected from         SEQ ID NO 48 to SEQ ID NO. 59.     -   By V1 structure is intended molecules that combine         -   a CD8alpha signal peptide,         -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH             and VL contributing to the binding to BCMA,         -   a Hinge from Fcgamma RIIIalpha         -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha         -   a cytoplasmic domain derived from 41BB and CD3 zeta     -   By V2 structure is intended molecules with a V1 structure and         wherein the transmembrane domain derived from 41BB     -   By V3 structure is intended molecules that combine         -   a CD8alpha signal peptide,         -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH             and VL contributing to the binding to BCMA,         -   a Hinge from CD8alpha         -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha         -   a cytoplasmic domain derived from 41BB and CD3 zeta     -   By V4 structure is intended molecules with a V3 structure and         wherein the transmembrane domain derived from 41BB.     -   By V5 structure is intended molecules that combine         -   a CD8alpha signal peptide,         -   a VH domain separated to a VL domain by a linker, said VH             and VL contributing to the binding to BCMA,         -   a Hinge from IgG1         -   a transmembrane domain derived from CD8alpha         -   a cytoplasmic domain derived from 41BB and CD3 zeta.     -   By V6 structure is intended molecules with a V5 structure and         wherein the transmembrane domain derived from 41BB.         The CAR structures of the invention are illustrated in FIG. 2.

The term “chemotherapy” refers to any therapy using a chemical, in particular those used against cancer.

-   -   The term “endonuclease” refers to any wild-type or variant         enzyme capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis (cleavage) of bonds         between nucleic acids within a DNA or RNA molecule, preferably a         DNA molecule. Endonucleases do not cleave the DNA or RNA         molecule irrespective of its sequence, but recognize and cleave         the DNA or RNA molecule at specific polynucleotide sequences,         further referred to as “target sequences” or “target sites”.         Endonucleases can be classified as rare-cutting endonucleases         when having typically a polynucleotide recognition site greater         than 12 base pairs (bp) in length, more preferably of 14-55 bp.         Rare-cutting endonucleases significantly increase HR by inducing         DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at a defined locus (Perrin,         Buckle et al. 1993; Rouet, Smih et al. 1994; Choulika, Perrin et         al. 1995; Pingoud and Silva 2007). Rare-cutting endonucleases         can for example be a homing endonuclease (Paques and Duchateau         2007), a chimeric Zinc-Finger nuclease (ZFN) resulting from the         fusion of engineered zinc-finger domains with the catalytic         domain of a restriction enzyme such as Fokl (Porteus and Carroll         2005), a Cas9 endonuclease from CRISPR system (Gasiunas,         Barrangou et al. 2012; Jinek, Chylinski et al. 2012; Cong, Ran         et al. 2013; Mali, Yang et al. 2013) or a chemical endonuclease         (Eisenschmidt, Lanio et al. 2005; Arimondo, Thomas et al. 2006).         In chemical endonucleases, a chemical or peptidic cleaver is         conjugated either to a polymer of nucleic acids or to another         DNA recognizing a specific target sequence, thereby targeting         the cleavage activity to a specific sequence. Chemical         endonucleases also encompass synthetic nucleases like conjugates         of orthophenanthroline, a DNA cleaving molecule, and         triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs), known to bind specific         DNA sequences (Kalish and Glazer 2005). Such chemical         endonucleases are comprised in the term “endonuclease” according         to the present invention.

By a “TALE-nuclease” (TALEN) is intended a fusion protein consisting of a nucleic acid-binding domain typically derived from a Transcription Activator Like Effector (TALE) and one nuclease catalytic domain to cleave a nucleic acid target sequence. The catalytic domain is preferably a nuclease domain and more preferably a domain having endonuclease activity, like for instance I-Tevl, ColE7, NucA and Fok-I. In a particular embodiment, the TALE domain can be fused to a meganuclease like for instance I-Crel and I-Onul or functional variant thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, said nuclease is a monomeric TALE-Nuclease. A monomeric TALE-Nuclease is a TALE-Nuclease that does not require dimerization for specific recognition and cleavage, such as the fusions of engineered TAL repeats with the catalytic domain of I-Tevl described in WO2012138927. Transcription Activator like Effector (TALE) are proteins from the bacterial species Xanthomonas comprise a plurality of repeated sequences, each repeat comprising di-residues in position 12 and 13 (RVD) that are specific to each nucleotide base of the nucleic acid targeted sequence. Binding domains with similar modular base-per-base nucleic acid binding properties (MBBBD) can also be derived from new modular proteins recently discovered by the applicant in a different bacterial species. The new modular proteins have the advantage of displaying more sequence variability than TAL repeats. Preferably, RVDs associated with recognition of the different nucleotides are HD for recognizing C, NG for recognizing T, NI for recognizing A, NN for recognizing G or A, NS for recognizing A, C, G or T, HG for recognizing T, IG for recognizing T, NK for recognizing G, HA for recognizing C, ND for recognizing C, HI for recognizing C, HN for recognizing G, NA for recognizing G, SN for recognizing G or A and YC for recognizing T, TL for recognizing A, VT for recognizing A or G and SW for recognizing A. In another embodiment, critical amino acids 12 and 13 can be mutated towards other amino acid residues in order to modulate their specificity towards nucleotides A, T, C and G and in particular to enhance this specificity. TALE-nuclease have been already described and used to stimulate gene targeting and gene modifications (Bock, Scholze et al. 2009; Moscou and Bogdanove 2009; Christian, Cermak et al. 2010; Li, Huang et al. 2011). Custom-made TAL-nucleases are commercially available under the trade name TALEN (Cellectis, 8 rue de la Croix Jarry, 75013 Paris, France).

The rare-cutting endonuclease according to the present invention can also be a Cas9 endonuclease. Recently, a new genome engineering tool has been developed based on the RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease (Gasiunas, Barrangou et al. 2012; Jinek, Chylinski et al. 2012; Cong, Ran et al. 2013; Mali, Yang et al. 2013) from the type II prokaryotic CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short palindromic Repeats) adaptive immune system (see for review (Sorek, Lawrence et al. 2013)). The CRISPR Associated (Cas) system was first discovered in bacteria and functions as a defense against foreign DNA, either viral or plasmid. CRISPR-mediated genome engineering first proceeds by the selection of target sequence often flanked by a short sequence motif, referred as the proto-spacer adjacent motif (PAM). Following target sequence selection, a specific crRNA, complementary to this target sequence is engineered. Trans-activating crRNA (tracrRNA) required in the CRISPR type II systems paired to the crRNA and bound to the provided Cas9 protein. Cas9 acts as a molecular anchor facilitating the base pairing of tracRNA with cRNA (Deltcheva, Chylinski et al. 2011). In this ternary complex, the dual tracrRNA:crRNA structure acts as guide RNA that directs the endonuclease Cas9 to the cognate target sequence. Target recognition by the Cas9-tracrRNA:crRNA complex is initiated by scanning the target sequence for homology between the target sequence and the crRNA. In addition to the target sequence-crRNA complementarity, DNA targeting requires the presence of a short motif adjacent to the protospacer (protospacer adjacent motif—PAM). Following pairing between the dual-RNA and the target sequence, Cas9 subsequently introduces a blunt double strand break 3 bases upstream of the PAM motif (Garneau, Dupuis et al. 2010).

Rare-cutting endonuclease can be a homing endonuclease, also known under the name of meganuclease. Such homing endonucleases are well-known to the art (Stoddard 2005). Homing endonucleases recognize a DNA target sequence and generate a single- or double-strand break. Homing endonucleases are highly specific, recognizing DNA target sites ranging from 12 to 45 base pairs (bp) in length, usually ranging from 14 to 40 bp in length. The homing endonuclease according to the invention may for example correspond to a LAGLIDADG endonuclease, to a HNH endonuclease, or to a GIY-YIG endonuclease. Preferred homing endonuclease according to the present invention can be an I-Crel variant.

-   -   By “delivery vector” or “delivery vectors” is intended any         delivery vector which can be used in the present invention to         put into cell contact (i.e “contacting”) or deliver inside cells         or subcellular compartments (i.e “introducing”) agents/chemicals         and molecules (proteins or nucleic acids) needed in the present         invention. It includes, but is not limited to liposomal delivery         vectors, viral delivery vectors, drug delivery vectors, chemical         carriers, polymeric carriers, lipoplexes, polyplexes,         dendrimers, microbubbles (ultrasound contrast agents),         nanoparticles, emulsions or other appropriate transfer vectors.         These delivery vectors allow delivery of molecules, chemicals,         macromolecules (genes, proteins), or other vectors such as         plasmids, peptides developed by Diatos. In these cases, delivery         vectors are molecule carriers. By “delivery vector” or “delivery         vectors” is also intended delivery methods to perform         transfection.     -   The terms “vector” or “vectors” refer to a nucleic acid molecule         capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has         been linked. A “vector” in the present invention includes, but         is not limited to, a viral vector, a plasmid, a RNA vector or a         linear or circular DNA or RNA molecule which may consists of a         chromosomal, non-chromosomal, semi-synthetic or synthetic         nucleic acids. Preferred vectors are those capable of autonomous         replication (episomal vector) and/or expression of nucleic acids         to which they are linked (expression vectors). Large numbers of         suitable vectors are known to those of skill in the art and         commercially available.

Viral vectors include retrovirus, adenovirus, parvovirus (e. g. adenoassociated viruses), coronavirus, negative strand RNA viruses such as orthomyxovirus (e. g., influenza virus), rhabdovirus (e. g., rabies and vesicular stomatitis virus), paramyxovirus (e. g. measles and Sendai), positive strand RNA viruses such as picornavirus and alphavirus, and double-stranded DNA viruses including adenovirus, herpesvirus (e. g., Herpes Simplex virus types 1 and 2, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus), and poxvirus (e. g., vaccinia, fowlpox and canarypox). Other viruses include Norwalk virus, togavirus, flavivirus, reoviruses, papovavirus, hepadnavirus, and hepatitis virus, for example. Examples of retroviruses include: avian leukosis-sarcoma, mammalian C-type, B-type viruses, D type viruses, HTLV-BLV group, lentivirus, spumavirus (Coffin, J. M., Retroviridae: The viruses and their replication, In Fundamental Virology, Third Edition, B. N. Fields, et al., Eds., Lippincott-Raven Publishers, Philadelphia, 1996).

-   -   By “lentiviral vector” is meant HIV-Based lentiviral vectors         that are very promising for gene delivery because of their         relatively large packaging capacity, reduced immunogenicity and         their ability to stably transduce with high efficiency a large         range of different cell types. Lentiviral vectors are usually         generated following transient transfection of three (packaging,         envelope and transfer) or more plasmids into producer cells.         Like HIV, lentiviral vectors enter the target cell through the         interaction of viral surface glycoproteins with receptors on the         cell surface. On entry, the viral RNA undergoes reverse         transcription, which is mediated by the viral reverse         transcriptase complex. The product of reverse transcription is a         double-stranded linear viral DNA, which is the substrate for         viral integration in the DNA of infected cells. By “integrative         lentiviral vectors (or LV)”, is meant such vectors as         nonlimiting example, that are able to integrate the genome of a         target cell. At the opposite by “non-integrative lentiviral         vectors (or NILV)” is meant efficient gene delivery vectors that         do not integrate the genome of a target cell through the action         of the virus integrase.     -   Delivery vectors and vectors can be associated or combined with         any cellular permeabilization techniques such as sonoporation or         electroporation or derivatives of these techniques.         By “recombinant antibody” as used herein, is meant an antibody         or antibody fragment which is generated using recombinant DNA         technology, such as, for example, an antibody or antibody         fragment expressed by a bacteriophage, a yeast expression system         or a mammalian cell expression system. The term should also be         construed to mean an antibody or antibody fragment which has         been generated by the synthesis of a DNA molecule encoding the         antibody or antibody fragment and which DNA molecule expresses         an antibody or antibody fragment protein, or an amino acid         sequence specifying the antibody or antibody fragment, wherein         the DNA or amino acid sequence has been obtained using         recombinant or synthetic DNA or amino acid sequence technology         which is available and well known in the art.     -   By cell or cells is intended any eukaryotic living cells,         primary cells and cell lines derived from these organisms for in         vitro cultures.     -   By “primary cell” or “primary cells” are intended cells taken         directly from living tissue (i.e. biopsy material) and         established for growth in vitro, that have undergone very few         population doublings and are therefore more representative of         the main functional components and characteristics of tissues         from which they are derived from, in comparison to continuous         tumorigenic or artificially immortalized cell lines.

An amino acid can be anyone of the amino acid, for example alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid.

As non-limiting examples cell lines can be selected from the group consisting of CHO-K1 cells; HEK293 cells; Caco2 cells; U2-OS cells; NIH 3T3 cells; NSO cells; SP2 cells; CHO-S cells; DG44 cells; K-562 cells, U-937 cells; MRC5 cells; IMR90 cells; Jurkat cells; HepG2 cells; HeLa cells; HT-1080 cells; HCT-116 cells; Hu-h7 cells; Huvec cells; Molt 4 cells.

All these cell lines can be modified by the method of the present invention to provide cell line models to produce, express, quantify, detect, study a gene or a protein of interest; these models can also be used to screen biologically active molecules of interest in research and production and various fields such as chemical, biofuels, therapeutics and agronomy as non-limiting examples.

-   -   by “mutation” is intended the substitution, deletion, insertion         of up to one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,         ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, twenty, twenty         five, thirty, forty, fifty, or more nucleotides/amino acids in a         polynucleotide (cDNA, gene) or a polypeptide sequence. The         mutation can affect the coding sequence of a gene or its         regulatory sequence. It may also affect the structure of the         genomic sequence or the structure/stability of the encoded mRNA.     -   by “variant(s)”, it is intended a repeat variant, a variant, a         DNA binding variant, a TALE-nuclease variant, a polypeptide         variant obtained by mutation or replacement of at least one         residue in the amino acid sequence of the parent molecule.     -   by “functional variant” is intended a catalytically active         mutant of a protein or a protein domain; such mutant may have         the same activity compared to its parent protein or protein         domain or additional properties, or higher or lower activity.     -   “identity” refers to sequence identity between two nucleic acid         molecules or polypeptides. Identity can be determined by         comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for         purposes of comparison. When a position in the compared sequence         is occupied by the same base, then the molecules are identical         at that position. A degree of similarity or identity between         nucleic acid or amino acid sequences is a function of the number         of identical or matching nucleotides at positions shared by the         nucleic acid sequences. Various alignment algorithms and/or         programs may be used to calculate the identity between two         sequences, including FASTA, or BLAST which are available as a         part of the GCG sequence analysis package (University of         Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), and can be used with, e.g., default         setting. For example, polypeptides having at least 70%, 85%,         90%, 95%, 98% or 99% identity to specific polypeptides described         herein and preferably exhibiting substantially the same         functions, as well as polynucleotide encoding such polypeptides,         are contemplated. Unless otherwise indicated a similarity score         will be based on use of BLOSUM62. When BLASTP is used, the         percent similarity is based on the BLASTP positives score and         the percent sequence identity is based on the BLASTP identities         score. BLASTP “Identities” shows the number and fraction of         total residues in the high scoring sequence pairs which are         identical; and BLASTP “Positives” shows the number and fraction         of residues for which the alignment scores have positive values         and which are similar to each other. Amino acid sequences having         these degrees of identity or similarity or any intermediate         degree of identity of similarity to the amino acid sequences         disclosed herein are contemplated and encompassed by this         disclosure. The polynucleotide sequences of similar polypeptides         are deduced using the genetic code and may be obtained by         conventional means, in particular by reverse translating its         amino acid sequence using the genetic code.     -   “signal-transducing domain” or “co-stimulatory ligand” refers to         a molecule on an antigen presenting cell that specifically binds         a cognate co-stimulatory molecule on a T-cell, thereby providing         a signal which, in addition to the primary signal provided by,         for instance, binding of a TCR/CD3 complex with an MHC molecule         loaded with peptide, mediates a T cell response, including, but         not limited to, proliferation activation, differentiation and         the like. A co-stimulatory ligand can include but is not limited         to CD7, B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), PD-L1, PD-L2, 4-1BBL, OX40L,         inducible costimulatory igand (ICOS-L), intercellular adhesion         molecule (ICAM, CD30L, CD40, CD70, CD83, HLA-G, MICA, M1CB,         HVEM, lymphotoxin beta receptor, 3/TR6, ILT3, ILT4, an agonist         or antibody that binds Toll ligand receptor and a ligand that         specifically binds with B7-H3. A co-stimulatory ligand also         encompasses, inter alia, an antibody that specifically binds         with a co-stimulatory molecule present on a T cell, such as but         not limited to, CD27, CD28, 4-IBB, OX40, CD30, CD40, PD-1, ICOS,         lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), CD2, CD7,         LTGHT, NKG2C, B7-H3, a ligand that specifically binds with CD83.

A “co-stimulatory molecule” refers to the cognate binding partner on a Tcell that specifically binds with a co-stimulatory ligand, thereby mediating a co-stimulatory response by the cell, such as, but not limited to proliferation. Co-stimulatory molecules include, but are not limited to an MHC class I molecule, BTLA and Toll ligand receptor.

A “co-stimulatory signal” as used herein refers to a signal, which in combination with primary signal, such as TCR/CD3 ligation, leads to T cell proliferation and/or upregulation or downregulation of key molecules.

The term “extracellular ligand-binding domain” as used herein is defined as an oligo- or polypeptide that is capable of binding a ligand. Preferably, the domain will be capable of interacting with a cell surface molecule. For example, the extracellular ligand-binding domain may be chosen to recognize a ligand that acts as a cell surface marker on target cells associated with a particular disease state. Thus examples of cell surface markers that may act as ligands include those associated with viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, autoimmune disease and cancer cells.

The term “subject” or “patient” as used herein includes all members of the animal kingdom including non-human primates and humans.

The term “treatment” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired clinical results. For purposes of this invention, beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: reducing the number and/or proliferation of neoplastic or cancerous cells, inhibiting metastasis of neoplastic cells, decreasing the size of BCMA expressing tumor, in particular in urothelial bladder cancer and squamous cell carcinoma, preventing or altering cancer metastasis, remission of a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer), decreasing symptoms resulting from a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer), increasing the quality of life of those suffering from a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer), decreasing the dose of other medications required to treat a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer), delaying the progression of a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer), curing a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer), and/or prolong survival of patients having a BCMA associated disease (e.g., cancer).

“Ameliorating” means a lessening or improvement of one or more symptoms as compared to not administering a BCMA antibody or a BCMA antibody conjugate. “Ameliorating” also includes shortening or reduction in duration of a symptom. The above written description of the invention provides a manner and process of making and using it such that any person skilled in this art is enabled to make and use the same, this enablement being provided in particular for the subject matter of the appended claims, which make up a part of the original description.

Where a numerical limit or range is stated herein, the endpoints are included. Also, all values and subranges within a numerical limit or range are specifically included as if explicitly written out.

The above description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, this invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

General Methods:

Inactivation of Specific Gene(s) in Primary T Cells

Inactivation of specific gene(s) in primary T cells may be performed before or after CAR introduction into T cells.

At least one gene, one gene or two genes may be inactivated in one step or in successive steps. In a preferred embodiment two genes may be inactivated at once, preferably TCRalpha gene and a drug sensitivity gene. Inactivation of a drug sensitivity gene confers resistance to said drug. Alternatively, (over)expression of a drug resistance gene confers resistance to said drug. In general, heterodimeric nuclease, in particular TALE-Nuclease targeting two long sequences (called half targets) separated by a spacer within a target gene is designed and produced. Each TALE-nuclease construct may be cloned in an appropriate mammalian expression vector. mRNA encoding TALE-nuclease cleaving a targeted genomic sequence may be synthesized from plasmid carrying the coding sequence downstream a promoter.

Cells are purified T cells preactivated with anti-CD3/CD28 coated beads. Cells are transfected with each of the 2 mRNAs encoding both half TALE-nucleases, in particular both half TALE-nucleases and spacer.

Cells may be reactivated with soluble anti-CD28 to measure cell proliferation and the activation marker CD25 detected to assess the activation state of the cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptors

Nucleic Acids—Vectors

An acid nucleic (mRNA or lentiviral vector) encoding a CAR of the invention is constructed.

A lentiviral vectors may be prepared for example as previously described in the art (eg in WO2013176915, WO2013176916, or in WO2014130635 and incorporated herein by reference). Lentiviral vectors are produced by Vectalys SA (Toulouse, France) by transfecting genomic and helper plasmids in HEK-293 cells.

CAR mRNAs may be produced using T7 mRNA polymerase and transfections done using Cytopulse technology.

Screening and Selection of CAR

Primary T-Cell Cultures

T cells are purified from Buffy coat samples provided by EFS (Etablissement Français du Sang, Paris, France) using Ficoll gradient density medium. The PBMC layer is recovered and T cells purified using a commercially available T-cell enrichment kit. Purified T cells are activated in X-Vivo-15 medium (Lonza) using Human IL-2 and Dynabeads Human T activator CD3/CD28.

CAR mRNA Transfection

Transfections of CAR mRNAs_encoding the different CAR constructs are performed at Day 4 or Day 11 after T-cell purification and activation.

CAR Transduction

T-cell transduction with recombinant lentiviral vectors allowing the expression of CAR Transduction of T-cells with recombinant lentiviral vectors are carried out three days after T-cell purification/activation. Transductions may be carried out at various multiplicity of infection (MOI), in particular at a MOI of 5. CAR detection at the surface of T-cells is performed using a recombinant protein consisting on the extracellular domain of the protein to which the CAR of the invention is binding, fused together with a murine IgG1 Fc fragment (produced by LakePharma).

Binding of this protein to the CAR molecule is detected with a PE-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson Immunoresearch) targeting the mouse Fc portion of the protein, and

Degranulation Assay (CD107a Mobilization)

T-cells are incubated together with an equal amount of cells expressing various levels of the protein targeted by the CAR of the invention (BCMA). Co-cultures are maintained for at least 6 hours. CD107a staining is performed during cell stimulation, by the addition of a fluorescent anti-CD107a antibody at the beginning of the co-culture. After the 6 h incubation period, cells are stained with a fixable viability dye and fluorochrome-conjugated anti-CD8 and analyzed by flow cytometry. The degranulation activity is determined as the % of CD8+/CD107a+ cells, and by determining the mean fluorescence intensity signal (MFI) for CD107a staining among CD8+ cells. Degranulation assays are carried out 24 h after mRNA transfection.

IFN Gamma Release Assay

24 h after mRNA transfection, CAR expressing T-cells are incubated together with cell lines expressing various levels of the BCMA protein for 24 hours at 37° C. The supernatants are recovered and IFN gamma detection in the cell culture supernatants is done by ELISA assay.

Cytotoxicity Assay

CAR expressing T-cells are incubated together with target cells or (control) cells in the same well. Target and control cells are labelled with fluorescent intracellular dyes (eg. CFSE or Cell Trace Violet), before co-culture with for 4 hours at 37° C. After this incubation period, cells are labelled with a fixable viability dye and analyzed by flow cytometry. Viability of each cellular population (target cells or control cells) is determined and the % of specific cell lysis is calculated. Cytotoxicity assays are carried out 48 h after mRNA transfection.

Anti-Tumor Mouse Model

Immuno deficient NOG mice are intravenously (iv) injected with—Luciferase cells expressing the targeted protein (recognized by the CAR). Optionally, mice receive an anti-cancer treatment at various doses before injection with CAR T-cells. Mice are then iv injected (eg either 2 or 7 days after injection of the tumor cell line) with different doses of CAR+ T-cells of the invention to be tested, or with T-cells that were not transduced with the CAR lentiviral vector. Bioluminescent signals are determined at the day of T-cell injection (DO), at D7, 14, 21, 28 and 40 after T-cell injection in order to follow tumoral progression in the different animals. Mice which survived were then treated with an inducer to selectively destroy CAR expressing immune cells

Having generally described this invention, a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples, which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Preparation of TCR KO T Cells

Proliferation of TCRalpha Inactivated Cells Expressing a BCMA-CAR.

Heterodimeric TALE-nuclease targeting two 17-bp long sequences (called half targets) separated by an 15-bp spacer within T-cell receptor alpha constant chain region (TRAC) gene were designed and produced. Each half target is recognized by repeats of the half TALE-nucleases listed in Table 10.

TABLE 10 TAL-nucleases targeting TCRalpha gene Target Target sequence Repeat sequence Half TALE-nuclease TRAC_T01 TTGTCCCACAGATATCC Repeat TRAC_T01-L TRAC_T01-L TALEN Agaaccctgaccctg (SEQ ID NO: 44) (SEQ ID NO: 46) CCGTGTACCAGCTGAGA Repeat TRAC_T01-R TRAC_T01-R TALEN (SEQ ID NO: 43) (SEQ ID NO: 45) (SEQ ID NO: 47)

Each TALE-nuclease construct was subcloned using restriction enzyme digestion in a mammalian expression vector under the control of the T7 promoter. mRNA encoding TALE-nuclease cleaving TRAC genomic sequence were synthesized from plasmid carrying the coding sequence downstream from the T7 promoter.

Purified T cells preactivated during 72 hours with anti-CD3/CD28 coated beads were transfected with each of the 2 mRNAs encoding both half TRAC_T01 TALE-nucleases. 48 hours post-transfection, different groups of T cells from the same donor were respectively transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding one of the BCMA CAR previously described (SEQ ID NO: 19 to 42). 2 days post-transduction, CD3_(NEG) cells were purified using anti-CD3 magnetic beads and 5 days post-transduction cells were reactivated with soluble anti-CD28 (5 μg/ml). Alternatively, BCMA CAR expression and TCR inactivation can be performed at the same time, in one step by transduction of appropriate vectors.

The present invention provides therefore TCR KO T cells that proliferate.

Cell proliferation was followed for up to 30 days after reactivation by counting cell 2 times per week. Increased proliferation in TCR alpha inactivated cells expressing the BCMA CARs, especially when reactivated with anti-CD28, was observed compared to non-transduced cells.

To investigate whether the human T cells expressing the BCMA CAR display activated state, the expression of the activation marker CD25 are analyzed by FACS 7 days post transduction. The purified cells transduced with the lentiviral vector encoding BCMA CAR assayed for CD25 expression at their surface in order to assess their activation in comparison with the non-transduced cells. Increased CD25 expression is expected both in CD28 reactivation or no reactivation conditions.

Example 2: Screening of BCMA CARs According to the Invention

4 different scFv's from C11D5.3, C13F12.1, BC30 and BC50 antibody were constructed and used to generate Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) and screen for their degranulation activity towards BCMA+ cells.

Different architectures of each CAR were designed (namely V1, V3 and V5) and their activity was determined upon transient expression in human primary T-cells.

Primary T-Cell Cultures

T cells were purified from Buffy coat samples provided by EFS (Etablissement Français du Sang, Paris, France) using Ficoll gradient density medium (Ficoll Paque PLUS/GE Healthcare Life Sciences). The PBMC layer was recovered and T cells were purified using a commercially available T-cell enrichment kit (Stem Cell Technologies). Purified T cells were activated in X-Vivo-15 medium (Lonza) supplemented with 20 ng/mL Human IL-2 (Miltenyi Biotech), 5% Human Serum (Sera Laboratories), and Dynabeads Human T activator CD3/CD28 at a bead:cell ratio 1:1 (Life Technologies). After activation cells were grown and maintained in X-Vivo-15 medium (Lonza) supplemented with 20 ng/mL Human IL-2 (Miltenyi Biotec) and 5% Human Serum (Sera Laboratories).

CAR mRNA Transfection

Transfections were done at Day 4 or Day 11 after T-cell purification and activation. 5 millions of cells were transfected with 15 μg of mRNA encoding the different CAR constructs. CAR mRNAs were produced using the mMESSAGE mMACHINE T7 Kit (Life Technologies) and purified using RNeasy Mini Spin Columns (Qiagen). Transfections were done using Cytopulse technology, by applying two 0.1 mS pulses at 3000V/cm followed by four 0.2 mS pulses at 325V/cm in 0.4 cm gap cuvettes in a final volume of 200 μl of “Cytoporation buffer T” (BTX Harvard Apparatus). Cells were immediately diluted in X-Vivo[n]-15 media (Lonza) and incubated at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. IL-2 (from Miltenyi Biotec was added 2 h after electroporation at 20 ng/mL.

Degranulation Assay (CD107a Mobilization)

T-cells were incubated in 96-well plates (40,000 cells/well), together with an equal amount of cells expressing or not the BCMA protein. Co-cultures were maintained in a final volume of 100 μl of X-Vivo-15 medium (Lonza) for 6 hours at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. CD107a staining was done during cell stimulation, by the addition of a fluorescent anti-CD107a antibody (APC conjugated, from Miltenyi Biotec) at the beginning of the co-culture, together with 1 μg/ml of anti-CD49d (BD Pharmingen), 1 μg/ml of anti-CD28 (Miltenyi Biotec), and 1× Monensin solution (eBioscience). After the 6 h incubation period, cells were stained with a fixable viability dye (eFluor 780, from eBioscience) and fluorochrome-conjugated anti-CD8 (PE conjugated Miltenyi Biotec) and analyzed by flow cytometry. The degranulation activity was determined as the % of CD8+/CD107a+ cells, and by determining the mean fluorescence intensity signal (MFI) for CD107a staining among CD8+ cells. Degranulation assays were carried out 24 h after mRNA transfection.

The example on FIG. 3 shows degranulation activity of CARs from the 4 different scFv's, when CAR+ T-cells were co-cultured for 6 hours with BCMA expressing cells (RPMI8226 or H929), or with cells that do not express BCMA (K562).

Three different architectures were tested for the BC30 and BC50 scFv's (v1, v3 and v5), and two were tested for the two other scFv's C11D5.3 and C13F12.1 (v3 and v5).

The results in FIG. 3 indicate that BC30 and BC50 derived CARs T cells are active against BCMA expressing cancer cells, while no activity is detected in CARs T cells wherein said CAR is derived from the C11D5.3 or C13F12.1 scFv's (FIG. 3).

The engineered T-cells of the invention display increased selectivity in vitro and increased cytolytic activity as compared to T-cells expressing a BCMA CAR derived from C11D5.3 or C13F12.1 scFv's.

Example 3: Activity of BCMA CAR Expressing T Cells Towards BCMA Expressing Cancer Cells

Among all the CAR molecules generated, 6 active molecules were selected for further activity tests.

For this, T-cells were isolated from buffy-coat samples and activated using CD3/CD28 beads as described above. Cells were transiently transfected with mRNAs encoding the different candidates at D11 after activation. CAR activity was assessed by measuring their degranulation capacity, the IFNgamma release, and the cytotoxic activity when co-cultured with cells expressing or not BCMA. FIG. 4 shows the degranulation activity (CD107a+ cells) of CAR T-cells after 6 h co-cultures with BCMA neg cells (K562) or cells expressing BCMA (RPMI8226 and NCI-H929). Co-cultures were started 24 h after CAR mRNA electroporation. The results represent the mean values of three independent experiments. The results in FIG. 4 confirmed the degranulation activity of BC30 and BC50 derived CARs expressed in T cells. The amount of IFNgamma released by CAR T-cells was measured when co-cultured for 24 h with cells expressing BCMA (NCI-H929 or RPMI8226), or with cells that do not express BCMA (K562). IFNgamma release from T-cells cultured alone, in the same conditions that the co-cultures, is also shown in FIG. 5. The experiments were done for three independent donors. The specific cytolytic activity of CAR-T cells was measured (FIG. 6). Assays were done 48 h after CAR mRNA transfection. T-cells were co-cultured with K562+RPMI8226 or K562+NCIH929 cells for 4 hours. Cellular viability for each of the cell lines was determined at the end of the co-cultured and a specific cell lysis percentage was calculated. The results obtained in the three activity tests allowed identifying BC30-v3 and BC50-v3 as the most active candidates, with the v5 or V1 versions of both scFv's derived CARs displaying also good activities, tough lower than the corresponding v3 candidates with a lower IFNgamma release. The BC30 and BC50 derived CAR of the invention confer T cells specificity and activity against BCMA expressing cancer cells.

IFNgamma Release Assay

T-cells were incubated in 96-well plates (40,000 cells/well), together with an equal amount of cells expressing or not the BCMA protein. Co-cultures were maintained in a final volume of 100 μl of X-Vivo-15 medium (Lonza) for 6 hours at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. CD107a staining was done during cell stimulation, by the addition of a fluorescent anti-CD107a antibody (APC conjugated, from Miltenyi Biotec) at the beginning of the co-culture, together with 1 μg/ml of anti-CD49d (BD Pharmingen), 1 μg/ml of anti-CD28 (Miltenyi Biotec), and 1× Monensin solution (eBioscience). After the 6 h incubation period, cells were stained with a fixable viability dye (eFluor 780, from eBioscience) and fluorochrome-conjugated anti-CD8 (PE conjugated Miltenyi Biotec) and analyzed by flow cytometry. The degranulation activity was determined as the % of CD8+/CD107a+ cells, and by determining the mean fluorescence intensity signal (MFI) for CD107a staining among CD8+ cells. Degranulation assays were carried out 24 h after mRNA transfection.

Cytotoxicity Assay

T-cells were incubated in 96-well plates (100,000 cells/well), together with 10,000 target cells (expressing BCMA NCI-H929 or RPMI-8226 cells) and 10,000 control (BCMA neg K562) cells in the same well. Target and control cells were labelled with fluorescent intracellular dyes (CFSE or Cell Trace Violet, from Life Technologies) before co-culturing them with CAR+ T-cells. The co-cultures were incubated for 4 hours at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. After this incubation period, cells were labelled with a fixable viability dye (eFluor 780, from eBioscience) and analyzed by flow cytometry. Viability of each cellular population (target cells or BCMAneg control cells) was determined and the % of specific cell lysis was calculated. Cytotoxicity assays were carried out 48 h after mRNA transfection. The BCMA30 and BCMA50 derived CARs of the invention were then transduced into primary TCR KO primary T cells and tested in vivo against BCMA expressing cancer cells. The results demonstrate a significant reduction of the amount of BCMA expressing cancer cells even in the presence of anti-cancer drug (corticoids, bortezomib). In addition, mice exhibited much less signs of graft versus host rejection when inoculated with TCR negative T cells, than when inoculated with TCR expressing cells. 100 days after implantation of BCMA T cells in mice, RQR8 positive BCMA T cells were still detectable. Injection of Rituximab into mice resulted in an undetectable level of cells. Mice recovered properly. The present invention provides therefore anti-BCMA CAR expressing T cells, originally allogenic, in particular BCMA30 or BCMA50 derived CAR expressing T cells for their use as a medicament against different BCMA expressing cancer cells which are well tolerated and can be eliminated. Examples of CAR Polypeptide Sequences: Framed sequences correspond to preferred VH and VL sequences. VH and VL may be swapped to improve CAR efficiency.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising one of the following polypeptide, optionally humanized.

BC50-1 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 19)

YCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQG QNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIG MKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR BC50-2 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 20)

FSWKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQ QGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSE IGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR BC50-3 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 21)

HTRGLDFACDIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCS CRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMG GKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALH MQALPPR BC50-4 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 22)

HTRGLDFACDIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDG CSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPE MGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKG ERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDA LHMQALPPR BC50-5 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 23)

MIARTPEVTCWVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQ DWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFY PSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSPGKIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEE DGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRD PEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTY DALHMQALPPR BC50-6 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 24)

MIARTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRWSVLTVLHQ DWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFY PSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSPGKIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSWKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQ EEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRG RDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKD TYDALHMQALPPR BC30-1 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 25)

TLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQ QGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSE IGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR BC30-2 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 26)

RFSWKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAY QQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAY SEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR BC30-3 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 27)

VHTRGLDFACDIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGC SCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEM GGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDAL HMQALPPR BC30-4 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 28)

VHTRGLDFACDIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEED GCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDP EMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYD ALHMQALPPR BC30-5 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 29)

LMIARTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQ DWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFY PSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSPGKIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEE DGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRD PEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTY DALHMQALPPR BC30-6 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 30)

LMIARTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQ DWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFY PSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALH NHYTQKSLSLSPGKIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQ EEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRG RDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKD TYDALHMQALPPR C11D53-1 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 31)

LLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNEL NLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRG KGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C11D53-2 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 32)

KKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYN ELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERR RGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C11D53-3 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 33)

DIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEG GCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQ EGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C11D53-4 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 34)

DIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEE EGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKN PQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C11D53-5 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 35)

VVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLS LSPGKIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPE EEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRR KNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPP R C11D53-6 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 36)

VVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLS LSPGKIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRF PEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKP RRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQA LPPR C13F12-1 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 37)

LLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNEL NLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRG KGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C13F12-2 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 38)

KKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYN ELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERR RGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C13F12-3 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 39)

DIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEEEG GCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKNPQ EGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C13F12-4 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 40)

DIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPEEE EGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRRKN PQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPPR C13F12-5 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 41)

VVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLS LSPGKIYIWAPLAGTCGVLLLSLVITLYCKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRFPE EEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKPRR KNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQALPP R C13F12-6 (SEQ ID NO. 1 + SEQ ID NO. 42)

VVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYK CKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSRDELTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWE SNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLS LSPGKIISFFLALTSTALLFLLFFLTLRFSVVKRGRKKLLYIFKQPFMRPVQTTQEEDGCSCRF PEEEEGGCELRVKFSRSADAPAYQQGQNQLYNELNLGRREEYDVLDKRRGRDPEMGGKP RRKNPQEGLYNELQKDKMAEAYSEIGMKGERRRGKGHDGLYQGLSTATKDTYDALHMQA LPPR The following objects, subject matter and embodiments are provided in the present invention: A BCMA (CD269) specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) having one of the polypeptide structure selected from V1 to V6 as illustrated in FIG. 2, said structure comprising an extra cellular ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody, a hinge, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain including a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said structure V1 comprises a Fc□RIIIα hinge and CD8α transmembrane domain. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said structure V2 comprises a Fc□RIIIα hinge and a 4-1BB transmembrane domain. A BCMA specific CAR as above wherein said structure V3 comprises a CD8α hinge and a CD8α transmembrane domain. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said structure V4 comprises a CD8α hinge and a 4-1BB transmembrane domain. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said structure V6 comprises a IgG1 hinge and a CD8α transmembrane domain. A BCMA specific CAR as above wherein said structure V6 comprises a IgG1 hinge and a 4-1BB transmembrane domain. A BCMA specific CAR as above wherein said VH and VL have at least 80% identity with a polypeptide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 11 to 18. A BCMA specific CAR according to any the embodiments above, wherein co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.8. A BCMA specific CAR according to any of the embodiments above, wherein said CD3 zeta signaling domain has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 9. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said Fc□RIIIα hinge has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.3. A BCMA specific CAR according to any of the embodiments above wherein said CD8α hinge has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.4. A BCMA specific CAR according to the above wherein said IgG1 hinge has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.5. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said CD8α transmembrane domain has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.6. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said 4-1BB transmembrane domain has at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO.7. A BCMA specific CAR as above further comprising another extracellular ligand binding domain which is not specific for BCMA. A BCMA specific CAR of structure V1 as above, which comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO.25, SEQ ID NO.31 and SEQ ID NO.37. A BCMA specific CAR of structure V2 as above, which comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO.26, SEQ ID NO.32 and SEQ ID NO.38. A BCMA specific CAR of structure V3 as above, which comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO.27, SEQ ID NO.33 and SEQ ID NO.39. A BCMA specific CAR of structure V4 as above, which comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO.28, SEQ ID NO.34 and SEQ ID NO.40. A BCMA specific CAR of structure V5 as above, which comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO.29, SEQ ID NO.35 and SEQ ID NO.41. A BCMA specific CAR of structure V6 as above, which comprises a polypeptide sequence having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO.30, SEQ ID NO.36 and SEQ ID NO.42. A BCMA specific CAR as above, further comprising a signal peptide. A BCMA specific CAR as above, wherein said signal peptide has at least 80% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO.2. A polynucleotide encoding a chimeric antigen receptor according to any of the above embodiment. An expression vector comprising a nucleic acid as above. An engineered immune cell expressing at the cell surface membrane a BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor as above. An engineered immune cell as above, derived from inflammatory T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, regulatory T-lymphocytes or helper T lymphocytes. An engineered immune cell as above, wherein it is derived from a NK cell. An engineered cell as above for use in therapy. An engineered cell as above for use in human therapy. An engineered cell for use in therapy as above wherein the condition is a pre-malignant or malignant cancer condition characterized by BCMA-expressing cells. An engineered cell according as above for use in therapy, wherein the condition is a condition which is characterized by an overabundance of BCMA-expressing cells. An engineered cell according to any one the above for use in therapy, wherein the condition is a haematological cancer condition. An engineered cell according to any one of the above for use in therapy, wherein the haematological cancer condition is leukemia. 36. An engineered cell according to the above embodiments for use in therapy, wherein the haematological cancer condition is multiple myeloma (MM). An engineered cell according to any one of the above for use in therapy, wherein said hematologic cancer is a malignant lymphoproliferative disorder. An engineered cell according to any one the above for use in therapy, wherein said leukemia is selected from the group consisting of acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. An engineered cell according to any one of the above, wherein expression of TCR is suppressed in said immune cell. An engineered cell according to any one the above, wherein expression of at least one MHC protein, preferably γ2 m or HLA, is suppressed in said immune cell. An engineered cell according to any one the above, wherein said cell is mutated to confer resistance to at least one immune suppressive or chemotherapy drug. A method of impairing a hematologic cancer cell comprising contacting said cell with an engineered cell according to any one of the above in an amount effective to cause impairment of said cancer cell. A method of engineering an immune cell comprising: (a) Providing an immune cell, (b) Expressing at the surface of said cell at least one BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor according to any one of the above. The method of engineering an immune cell as above comprising: (a) Providing an immune cell, (b) Introducing into said cell at least one polynucleotide encoding said BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor, (c) Expressing said polynucleotide into said cell. The method of engineering an immune cell as above comprising: (a) Providing an immune cell, (b) Introducing into said cell at least one polynucleotide encoding said BCMA specific chimeric antigen receptor, (c) Introducing at least one other chimeric antigen receptor which is not specific for BCMA. A method of treating a subject in need thereof comprising: (a) Providing an immune cell expressing at the surface a BCMA specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor according to any one of the above; (b) Administrating said immune cells to said patient. A method according to the above wherein said immune cell is provided from a donor. A method according to the above wherein said immune cell is provided from the patient himself.

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The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for treating a pathological condition related to a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-expressing cancer cell in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an engineered T cell comprising a cell surface-expressed BCMA specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR), wherein the BCMA specific CAR comprises: (a) an extracellular ligand binding-domain comprising a VH and a VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody, wherein said VH comprises SEQ ID NO. 68 and said VL comprises SEQ ID NO. 69; said VH comprises SEQ ID NO. 11 and said VL comprises SEQ ID NO. 12; or said VH comprises SEQ ID NO. 13 and said VL comprises SEQ ID NO. 14; (b) a FcγRIIIα hinge, a CD8α hinge or an IgG1 hinge comprising a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NOs. 3, 4, and 5, respectively; (c) a CD8α transmembrane domain; and (d) an intracellular cytoplasmic domain comprising a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB; wherein said BCMA specific CAR-expressing T cell treats the pathological condition related to the BCMA-expressing cancer cell by inducing cytolytic activity in the cancer cell in the patient.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the BCMA-expressing cancer cell expresses elevated levels of BCMA.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the BCMA-expressing cancer cell is a haematological cancer cell.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CAR comprises a polypeptide sequence comprising at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO. 20 or SEQ ID NO.
 26. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CAR comprises a polypeptide sequence comprising at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO. 19 or SEQ ID NO.
 25. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody is a humanized antibody.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CAR comprises a polypeptide sequence comprising at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID No. 21 or SEQ ID NO.
 27. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CAR comprises a polypeptide sequence comprising at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO. 23 or SEQ ID NO.
 29. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracellular domain further comprises an extracellular ligand binding domain that does not bind BCMA.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engineered T cell comprises at least one of the following: at least one genetic modification to suppress at least one MHC protein; at least one genetic modification to confer resistance to at least one immune suppressive drug or at least one chemotherapy drug; at least one genetic modification to inactivate a T-Cell receptor (TCR) by knocking out a TCR subunit; or any combination thereof.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CD3 zeta signaling domain comprises the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 9 or an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 9. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB comprises the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 8 or an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 8. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said CD8α transmembrane domain comprises the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO. 6 or an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 6. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the BCMA specific CAR further comprises a signal peptide comprising SEQ ID NOs. 1 or
 2. 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one genetic modification to suppress at least one MHC protein comprises suppression of an MHC associated β2m.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engineered T cell further comprises a suicide gene.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the BCMA specific CAR is encoded by a lentivirus vector construct or an adeno-associated virus vector construct.
 18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the engineered T cell comprises a genetic modification to inactivate the alpha beta T-Cell receptor (TCR) by knocking out a TCR alpha subunit.
 19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the engineered T cell comprises a genetic modification to inactivate a CD52 gene.
 20. A method of treating a pathological condition related to a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-expressing cancer cell in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising: administering to said patient a composition comprising an engineered T cell expressing a BCMA specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) at the cell surface, said CAR comprising: (a) an extracellular ligand binding-domain comprising VH and VL from a monoclonal anti-BCMA antibody, wherein the VH comprises at least one CDR sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs. 61, 62, and 63 and wherein the VL comprises at least one CDR sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs. 64, 65, 66, and 67; (b) a FcγRIIIα hinge, a CD8α hinge or an IgG1 hinge comprising a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID NOs. 3, 4, and 5, respectively; (c) a CD8α transmembrane domain; and (d) an intracellular cytoplasmic domain comprising a CD3 zeta signaling domain and a co-stimulatory domain from 4-1BB; wherein said BCMA specific CAR-expressing T cell treats the pathological condition related to the BCMA-expressing cancer cell by inducing cytolytic activity in the cancer cell in the patient. 